Back Creek Trail–George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, 5 sights
5.4 mi · ▲ 1,172 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Back Creek Trail–George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, 5 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Clayton, CA. It climbs 1,172 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Back Creek Trail–George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, 5 sights
5.4 mi · ▲ 1,172 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Elevation 545–1,423 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: Back Creek Trail · 37.92111, -121.92748
Weather Aug 3: Partly cloudy, high 99°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:13 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start on Back Creek Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Back Creek Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Tick Wood Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Hetherington Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Wassermann Trail, heading E.
- 1 miReach George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miSharp right onto Hetherington Loop Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Tick Wood Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Back Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Back Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 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 2.5 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Back Creek Trail Trailhead
- Back Creek Trail–George Cardinet Back Creek Trail, 3 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 513 ft
- Bruce Lee Road–Coulter Pine Trail, 4 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,163 ft
- North Peak–Murchio Gap, 7 sights 9.1 mi · ▲ 3,213 ft
- Murchio Gap–Prospectors Gap, 6 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 4,164 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Clayton, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Clayton, California