AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Liverock Forest at Alum Rock Park.jpg
Benzozo001 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alum Rock Park

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 7 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 973 ft · 2 hr 35 min

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 7 sights is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Alum Rock Park near East Foothills, CA. The route reaches South Rim Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 973 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi302 – 1,191 ft · steepest grade: 16%6.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail 37.39540, -121.82534
Nearest town East Foothills, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 7 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 973 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Elevation 303–1,191 ft

Out & Back · Alum Rock Park

Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail · 37.39540, -121.82534

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Penitencia Creek Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miBear right onto Peninsular Trail, heading E.
  3. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Penitencia Creek Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  6. 250 ftTurn left onto North Woodland Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Inspiration Point Trail, heading NW.
  8. 300 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miBear right onto South Rim Trail, heading NE.
  10. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Switchback Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto South Rim Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.4 miPass South Rim Viewpoint.
  13. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Penitencia Creek Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Peninsular Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  18. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  19. 350 ftContinue straight onto Penitencia Creek Trail, heading W.
  20. 450 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/alum-rock-park-viewpoint-loop-10-km

Trail surface

11% dirt1% gravel88% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 7:44 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM — 7 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Penitencia Creek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near East Foothills, California