AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Alder Spring Trail–Badger's Byway Trail, 3 sights

4 mi · ▲ 733 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Alder Spring Trail–Badger's Byway Trail, 3 sights is a 4-mile out-and-back in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve near Los Trancos Woods, CA. It climbs 733 ft. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,021 – 2,392 ft4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Badger's Byway Trail 37.33604, -122.22293
Nearest town Los Trancos Woods, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Alder Spring Trail–Badger's Byway Trail, 3 sights

4 mi · ▲ 733 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 2,020–2,393 ft

Out & Back · Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: Badger's Byway Trail · 37.33604, -122.22293

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 86°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Horses allowed on the whole route

  1. Start on Fog Drift Vista Trail, heading E.
  2. 250 ftBear right onto Badger's Byway Trail, heading SE.
  3. 250 ftBear right onto Fog Drift Vista Trail, heading S.
  4. 200 ftContinue straight onto Badger's Byway Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.9 miTurn right onto Hawk Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Alder Spring Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miReach Badger's Byway Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Hawk Ridge Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left onto Badger's Byway Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Fog Drift Vista Trail, heading W.
  11. 150 ftBear left onto Badger's Byway Trail, heading N.
  12. 250 ftBear left onto Fog Drift Vista Trail, heading N.
  13. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/alder-spring-trail-badgers-byway-trail-out-back-3-sights-6-km

Trail surface

5% dirt95% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 86°F61°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity30%
Hourly temperature
90°60°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 79°60°
Wed 75°51°
Thu 90°50°
Fri 96°57°
Sat 93°53°
Sun 86°49°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:56 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:16 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:45 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Horses allowed on the whole route

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Badger's Byway Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Los Trancos Woods, California