AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 5 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 909 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Benches Viewpoint before reaching Bill & Flora's Point at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 909 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,769 – 7,221 ft · steepest grade: 22%5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.32146, -120.37984
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 5 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 909 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Elevation 6,768–7,222 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.32146, -120.37984

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 83°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miSharp right onto Summit Connection, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  5. 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading S.
  6. 1.2 miTurn left onto Jack's Jump, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miPass Benches Viewpoint.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  9. 250 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  12. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  13. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  15. 450 ftTurn left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  16. 350 ftBear left onto Bill & Flora's Point Trail, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftReach Bill & Flora's Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 300 ftBear right onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading W.
  19. 350 ftTurn right onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  20. 450 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  22. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  25. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading NE.
  26. 250 ftBear left onto Jack's Jump, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NE.
  28. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  29. 300 ftBear right onto Summit Connection, heading NW.
  30. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  31. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  32. 50 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/bill-floras-point-benches-viewpoint-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F54°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity16%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°61°
Wed 86°56°
Thu 86°56°
Fri 86°56°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 87°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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