Carbondale Trail–Contra Loma Trail, 9 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve near Somersville, CA. It climbs 2,089 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi256 – 1,132 ft · steepest grade: 25%9.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Raildroad Bed Trail 37.96743, -121.86322
Nearest town Somersville, CA
Directions
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Carbondale Trail–Contra Loma Trail, 9 sights
9.6 mi · ▲ 2,089 ft · 4 hr 15 min
Elevation 258–1,133 ft
Out & Back · Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Trailhead: Raildroad Bed Trail · 37.96743, -121.86322
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 95°F / low 74° · precip 0% · wind 17 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
- Start on Raildroad Bed Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto River View Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Saddle Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto River View Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lark Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Old Homestead Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Homestead Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Stewartville Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftReach River View Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Contra Loma Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto North Portal Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Old Homestead Loop Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Lark Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto River View Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Carbondale Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Saddle Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto River View Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Raildroad Bed Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
73% dirt27% gravel
Weather
ClearTemperature 95°F74°
Feels like79°Precip0%Wind17 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
95°70°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Wed
92°63°
Thu
98°64°
Fri
103°68°
Sat
102°67°
Sun
99°66°
Mon
96°62°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Raildroad Bed Trail Trailhead
- Carbondale Trail–River View Trail, 3 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 657 ft
- Lark Trail–River View Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 694 ft
- Acorn Trail–Corcoran Mine Trail, 5 sights 9 mi · ▲ 2,587 ft
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Hikes near Somersville, California