AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Aptos Creek Road

2.7 mi · ▲ 687 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Aptos Creek Road is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park near Monte Toyon, CA. It climbs 687 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi148 – 623 ft · steepest grade: 20%3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.00017, -121.91427
Nearest town Monte Toyon, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aptos Creek Road

2.7 mi · ▲ 687 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Elevation 147–623 ft

Out & Back · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Trailhead: 37.00017, -121.91427

Weather Sep 5: Clear, high 80°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Dogs allowed on leash

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right onto Aptos Creek Road, heading E.
  4. 450 ftTurn right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading SE.
  5. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 250 ftBear left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading SW.
  9. 200 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Vienna Woods Trail, heading S.
  11. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Road, heading S.
  14. 250 ftBear right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading S.
  15. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 400 ftTurn left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading N.
  18. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.6 miArrive 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/aptos-creek-road-out-back-4-km-22d6

Trail surface

9% dirt1% boardwalk90% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 80°F55°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity70%
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:34 PM
Sun 74°50°
Mon 69°56°
Tue 71°59°
Wed 75°60° 18%
Thu 83°66°
Fri 74°63°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:14 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:34 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:00 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Monte Toyon, California