Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area

Big Lagoon

6.5 mi · ▲ 758 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Big Lagoon is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area near Big Lagoon, CA. The route reaches Big Lagoon at the turnaround, 3.2 miles in. It climbs 758 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi39 – 397 ft · steepest grade: 15%6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.15855, -124.09596
Nearest town Big Lagoon, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Lagoon

6.5 mi · ▲ 758 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Elevation 39–398 ft

Out & Back · Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area

Trailhead: 41.15855, -124.09596

Weather Aug 3: Overcast, high 63°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:32 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 1.9 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  4. 1.2 miReach Big Lagoon, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1.2 miSharp right, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  7. 1.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

OvercastTemperature 63°F50°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity74%
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:15 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:32 PM
Tue 79°51°
Wed 82°55°
Thu 84°61°
Fri 86°59°
Sat 87°60°
Sun 88°60°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 8:11 PM for the 8:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM — 15 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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