Ipiwa Viewpoint–Alpine Pond, 3 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route passes Alpine Pond before reaching Ipiwa Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 637 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ipiwa Viewpoint–Alpine Pond, 3 sights
3.2 mi · ▲ 637 ft · 1 hr 23 min
Elevation 2,207–2,569 ft
Out & Back · Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: 37.31479, -122.19782
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:09 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miPass Alpine Pond.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miReach Ipiwa Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:49 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:09 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:35 PM.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 6 sights 5.1 mi · ▲ 970 ft
- Borel Hill–Ridge Viewpoint, 4 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 635 ft
- Charquin Trail–Council Circle Trail, 3 sights 6.6 mi · ▲ 1,174 ft
- Alpine Pond & Butano View Trail via Ipiwa Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 822 ft
- New Ancient Oaks Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 497 ft
- New Ancient Oaks Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 514 ft
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Hikes near Vista Verde, California