Franco Ridge Loop Trail
2.3 mi · ▲ 410 ft · 58 min
Franco Ridge Loop Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. It climbs 410 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Franco Ridge Loop Trail
2.3 mi · ▲ 410 ft · 58 min
Elevation 341–571 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: 37.88769, -122.01444
Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miReach Franco Ridge Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM — 0 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail & Twin Ponds Loop Trail Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 363 ft
- Foothills Trail via Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 451 ft
- Bob Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 447 ft
- Twin Ponds–TwinPonds, 5 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 458 ft
- Franco Ridge Ridge Trail & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 474 ft
- Sulphur Creek Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 848 ft
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