AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 4 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 619 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 4 sights is a 3.1-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, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 619 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,893 – 7,221 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Switchback 39.30800, -120.37991
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 4 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 619 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 6,895–7,222 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: Switchback · 39.30800, -120.37991

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start on Switchback, heading SE.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left onto Jack's Jump, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftPass Benches Viewpoint.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  11. 450 ftTurn left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  12. 350 ftBear left onto Bill & Flora's Point Trail, heading SW.
  13. 300 ftReach Bill & Flora's Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 350 ftBear right onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftTurn right onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  16. 450 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading NE.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading E.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading NE.
  22. 250 ftBear left onto Jack's Jump, heading E.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NE.
  24. 0.9 miArrive 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-7-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F55°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°61°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°54°
Fri 85°55°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 86°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:49 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM — 10 min before dark.

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