AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Shell Ridge Open Space

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Bob Pond, 11 sights

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,552 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Bob Pond, 11 sights is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Alamo Oaks, CA. The route passes Bob Pond, TwinPonds and Twin Ponds before reaching Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,552 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi269 – 679 ft · steepest grade: 20%9.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.89399, -121.99515
Nearest town Alamo Oaks, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Bob Pond, 11 sights

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,552 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Elevation 268–678 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: 37.89399, -121.99515

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 100°F / low 68° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.1 miPass Bob Pond.
  6. 100 ftBear right onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.5 miPass TwinPonds.
  9. 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Foothills Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.7 miBear right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading W.
  15. 500 ftTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  16. 1.5 miBear right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Center Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.3 miTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miReach Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.5 miTurn left onto Center Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  23. 1.5 miTurn right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading NE.
  24. 500 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.7 miTurn left onto Foothills Trail, heading E.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NE.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.5 miTurn right onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading N.
  30. 250 ftBear left onto Borges Ranch Road, heading N.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  34. 250 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/bob-pond-bob-pond-out-back-14-sights-14-km

Trail surface

74% dirt13% paved13% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 100°F68°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
100°65°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 93°67°
Wed 91°57°
Thu 98°56°
Fri 103°61°
Sat 103°59°
Sun 102°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 7:08 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alamo Oaks, California