AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Aptos Creek Road

2.7 mi · ▲ 714 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 714 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%3.2 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 · ▲ 714 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Elevation 147–623 ft

Out & Back · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Trailhead: 37.00017, -121.91427

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 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. 100 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Road, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading S.
  13. 150 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Road, heading S.
  14. 200 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 NW.
  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-1a52

Trail surface

18% dirt1% boardwalk81% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 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 8:37 PM — 5 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Monte Toyon, California