Aptos Creek Road–Aptos Rancho Trail, 3 sights is a 7-mile out-and-back in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park near Monte Toyon, CA. It climbs 976 ft. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi112 – 807 ft7.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Aptos Creek Road 36.99041, -121.90639
Nearest town Monte Toyon, CA
Directions
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Aptos Creek Road–Aptos Rancho Trail, 3 sights
7 mi · ▲ 976 ft · 2 hr 49 min
Elevation 111–807 ft
Out & Back · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Trailhead: Aptos Creek Road · 36.99041, -121.90639
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Road, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading N.
- 1 miTurn right onto Trout Gulch Trail, heading N.
- 1 miReach Aptos Rancho Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn left onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading SE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Rancho Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 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
50% dirt50% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~102 min). Leave by 6:11 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Aptos Creek Road Trailhead
- The Advocate Tree–Aptos Rancho Viewpoint Loop, 3 sights 1.3 mi · ▲ 227 ft
- Vienna Woods Trail 2 mi · ▲ 331 ft
- Aptos Creek Road & Aptos Rancho Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 413 ft
- Aptos Creek Fire Road–Aptos Creek Road, 3 sights 5.9 mi · ▲ 549 ft
- Land of Medicine Buddha–6 mile trail loop, 3 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 1,937 ft
- Sand Point Overlook–Aptos Rancho Trail, 5 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 2,392 ft
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Hikes near Monte Toyon, California