Chaparral Loop Trail & Nortonville Trail via Black Diamond Trail is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve near Somersville, CA. It climbs 1,452 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi748 – 1,270 ft · steepest grade: 21%4.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Nortonville Trail 37.95669, -121.86438
Nearest town Somersville, CA
Directions
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Chaparral Loop Trail & Nortonville Trail via Black Diamond Trail
4.6 mi · ▲ 1,452 ft · 2 hr 16 min
Elevation 747–1,269 ft
Out & Back · Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Trailhead: Nortonville Trail · 37.95669, -121.86438
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:54 AM · sunset 7:09 PM
- Start on Black Diamond Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Manhattan Canyon Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Chaparral Loop Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miReach Nortonville Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miSharp left onto Manhattan Canyon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Black Diamond Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunrise 6:54 AMSunset 7:09 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Nortonville Trail Trailhead
- Lougher Loop Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 375 ft
- Lougher Ridge Trail via Lougher Loop Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 1,342 ft
- Lougher Loop Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 826 ft
- Carbondale Trail–Lark Trail, 4 sights 3.2 mi · ▲ 580 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Somersville, California