AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Lake Anza Beach.jpg
Agiral · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tilden Regional Park

Convict Viewpoint–Lake Anza, 6 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 1,744 ft · 3 hr 56 min

Convict Viewpoint–Lake Anza, 6 sights is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Tilden Regional Park near Cragmont, CA. The route passes Lake Anza Beach, Lake Anza and Lake Anza Beach before reaching Convict Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.6 miles in. It climbs 1,744 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi568 – 1,624 ft · steepest grade: 17%10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.90401, -122.26029
Nearest town Cragmont, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Convict Viewpoint–Lake Anza, 6 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 1,744 ft · 3 hr 56 min

Elevation 568–1,624 ft

Out & Back · Tilden Regional Park

Trailhead: 37.90401, -122.26029

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Transit-accessible: Tilden Park Pony Rides stop 388 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  3. 250 ftSharp left onto Wildcat Gorge Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right onto Meadows Canyon Trail, heading E.
  5. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Curran Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.6 miBear left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftPass Lake Anza Beach.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftPass Lake Anza.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Wildcat Gorge Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 200 ftTurn right onto Lake Anza Trail, heading E.
  13. 150 ftPass Lake Anza Beach.
  14. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  16. 150 ftBear right onto Selby Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 1 miBear right onto Tower Trail, heading S.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftReach Convict Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Grizzly Peak Trail, heading SE.
  25. 1 miTurn right onto Selby Trail, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  27. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  28. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftSharp right onto Lake Anza Trail, heading NE.
  31. 300 ftTurn left onto Wildcat Gorge Trail, heading N.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  33. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  34. 0.1 miBear right onto Curran Trail, heading E.
  35. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Meadows Canyon Trail, heading W.
  36. 1.4 miTurn left onto Wildcat Gorge Trail, heading N.
  37. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
  38. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  39. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/convict-viewpoint-lake-anza-out-back-5-beaches-15-km-8e03

Trail surface

99% dirt1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:16 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Tilden Park Pony Rides stop 388 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Cragmont, California