AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Benches Viewpoint–Serene Lakes, 3 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft · 2 hr

Benches Viewpoint–Serene Lakes, 3 sights is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes before reaching Benches Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 737 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,877 – 7,221 ft5.6 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, 3 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 737 ft · 2 hr

Elevation 6,876–7,221 ft

Out & Back · 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 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 400 ftTurn right onto Reindeer, heading E.
  9. 1 miPass Serene Lakes.
  10. 200 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading NE.
  11. 300 ftSharp right onto Tiny Tim, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading E.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading E.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  19. 250 ftReach Benches Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 250 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading N.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading NW.
  27. 0.2 miSharp left onto Switchback, heading SE.
  28. 300 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading SE.
  29. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  32. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  34. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  35. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 500 ftArrive 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-out-back-4-sights-9-km

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 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:50 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM — 11 min before dark.

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