AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mendocino Headlands State Park

Big River–Confusion, 6 sights

12.4 mi · ▲ 1,658 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Big River–Confusion, 6 sights is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Mendocino Headlands State Park near Whiskey Springs, CA. The route reaches Big River at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 1,658 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi10 – 863 ft · steepest grade: 19%12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: connector 39.33559, -123.72941
Nearest town Whiskey Springs, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big River–Confusion, 6 sights

12.4 mi · ▲ 1,658 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Elevation 11–863 ft

Out & Back · Mendocino Headlands State Park

Trailhead: connector · 39.33559, -123.72941

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 67°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 150 ftBear right onto Observatory Trail, heading S.
  3. 1 miTurn left onto Confusion, heading W.
  4. 1.1 miSharp left onto Gas Cap, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto Endo, heading S.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto O No!, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right onto Dry Dock, heading SE.
  8. 1.3 miBear right onto Big River Road, heading SW.
  9. 1.8 miReach Big River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 1.8 miBear left onto Dry Dock, heading NE.
  11. 1.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto O No!, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto Endo, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left onto Gas Cap, heading NW.
  15. 0.4 miSharp right onto Confusion, heading NW.
  16. 1.1 miTurn right onto Observatory Trail, heading N.
  17. 1 miBear left, heading NW.
  18. 100 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/big-river-out-back-25-km-e68e

Trail surface

51% dirt49% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 67°F50°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV7Humidity65%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat 64°51°
Sun 69°47°
Mon 77°45°
Tue 74°52°
Wed 71°49°
Thu 78°57° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:06 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from connector Trailhead

Hikes near Whiskey Springs, California