Alpine Pond & Charquin Trail via New Ancient Oaks Trail is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route reaches Alpine Pond. It climbs 1,187 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi1,814 – 2,494 ft · steepest grade: 17%5.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Ipiwa Trail 37.31505, -122.18837
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
Directions
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Alpine Pond & Charquin Trail via New Ancient Oaks Trail
5.1 mi · ▲ 1,187 ft · 2 hr 18 min
Elevation 1,813–2,494 ft
Out & Back · Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Ipiwa Trail · 37.31505, -122.18837
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Ipiwa Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Alpine Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Audrey's Way, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Charquin Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miReach Alpine Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Mindego Hill Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading N.
- 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 surface
59% dirt20% gravel21% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:10 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Ipiwa Trail Trailhead
- Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 12 sights 14.8 mi · ▲ 2,953 ft
- Turtle Rock–Ipiwa Viewpoint, 13 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 2,274 ft
- Alpine Pond–Butano View Trail, 3 sights 1.9 mi · ▲ 319 ft
- Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 3 lakes 3.1 mi · ▲ 646 ft
- Audrey's Viewpoint & Alpine Pond via New Ancient Oaks Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 547 ft
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