Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Whelk Pond–Cowlick Look, 7 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,294 ft · 7 hr 17 min
Whelk Pond–Cowlick Look, 7 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Ulmar, CA. The route passes Cowlick Look and Decision Point before reaching Whelk Pond at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 4,294 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Whelk Pond–Cowlick Look, 7 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,294 ft · 7 hr 17 min
Elevation 533–2,168 ft
Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Trailhead: Canada Trail · 37.80032, -121.75078
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 73°F / low 57° · precip 7% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Canada Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Whipsnake Loop, heading N.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Blue Oak Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miPass Cowlick Look.
- 50 ftPass Decision Point.
- 350 ftBear right onto Miwok Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Manzanita Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miReach Whelk Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Miwok Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Blue Oak Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Whipsnake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading S.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Canada Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.8 mi in (~212 min). Leave by 3:41 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Canada Trail Trailhead
- Canada Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,128 ft
- Black Hills Trail–Canada Trail, 3 sights 9.9 mi · ▲ 3,186 ft
- The Shade Tree–Black Hills Trail, 4 sights 11 mi · ▲ 3,269 ft
- Frog Pond–Black Hills Trail, 6 sights 12.1 mi · ▲ 3,424 ft
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Hikes near Ulmar, California