AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Pinus attenuata Pine Mountain.jpg
Ilya Katsnelson · CC BY 2.0
Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Buzzards Roost–Little Basin Reservoir (closed), 5 sights

3.5 mi · ▲ 852 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Buzzards Roost–Little Basin Reservoir (closed), 5 sights is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Forest Springs, CA. The route passes Little Basin Reservoir (closed) before reaching Buzzards Roost at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It climbs 852 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,365 – 2,126 ft · steepest grade: 29%3.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Tanbark Loop Trail 37.15739, -122.20767
Nearest town Forest Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buzzards Roost–Little Basin Reservoir (closed), 5 sights

3.5 mi · ▲ 852 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Elevation 1,365–2,127 ft

Out & Back · Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Trailhead: Tanbark Loop Trail · 37.15739, -122.20767

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 56° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Tanbark Loop Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Little Basin Reservoir (closed).
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto Pig Ridge Cutoff, heading W.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tanbark Loop Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
  6. 0.7 miTurn right onto Pine Mountain Trail, heading W.
  7. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 450 ftReach Buzzards Roost, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 0.7 miSharp right onto Tanbark Loop Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Pig Ridge Cutoff, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Tanbark Loop Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.5 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/buzzards-roost-out-back-6-km-d5d9

Weather

ClearTemperature 87°F56°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity55%
Hourly temperature
90°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue 83°56°
Wed 81°51°
Thu 82°52°
Fri 91°62°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 79°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 7:26 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 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 Tanbark Loop Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Forest Springs, California