AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Benches Viewpoint–Serene Lakes Loop, 5 sights

7 mi · ▲ 897 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Benches Viewpoint–Serene Lakes Loop, 5 sights is a 7-mile loop in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes and Benches Viewpoint. It climbs 897 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,693 – 7,221 ft · steepest grade: 18%7.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Benches Viewpoint–Serene Lakes Loop, 5 sights

7 mi · ▲ 897 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Elevation 6,695–7,222 ft

Loop · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto Kilborn Forrest Access, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Reindeer, heading SW.
  8. 1 miPass Serene Lakes.
  9. 200 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading N.
  10. 300 ftSharp right onto Tiny Tim, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftTurn right onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftPass Benches Viewpoint.
  19. 250 ftBear left onto Jack's Jump, heading N.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NE.
  21. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 300 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading NW.
  23. 150 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading N.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading N.
  25. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  26. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  31. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  32. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  34. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  36. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  37. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  38. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  39. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  40. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  41. 0.1 miThe loop closes 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/benches-viewpoint-serene-lakes-loop-6-sights-11-km-46a1

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~82 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Soda Springs, California