AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Heteromeles arbutifolia 02.jpg
Miguel Vieira · CC BY 2.0
Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed

Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 5 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 3,505 ft · 7 hr 3 min

Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 5 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Byron, CA. The route passes Cowlick Look before reaching Decision Point at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 3,505 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi341 – 2,011 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.84126, -121.72516
Nearest town Byron, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 5 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 3,505 ft · 7 hr 3 min

Elevation 343–2,010 ft

Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed

Trailhead: 37.84126, -121.72516

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 76°F / low 58° · precip 7% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 1.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
  3. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 0.6 miTurn left onto Oak Savannah Trail, heading W.
  5. 2.9 miSharp right onto Adobe Trail, heading NW.
  6. 0.8 miBear left onto Miwok Trail, heading SW.
  7. 1.9 miBear left onto Blue Oak Trail, heading S.
  8. 150 ftPass Decision Point.
  9. 50 ftReach Cowlick Look, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 200 ftBear right onto Miwok Trail, heading S.
  11. 1.9 miBear right onto Adobe Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.8 miSharp left onto Oak Savannah Trail, heading SE.
  13. 2.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  14. 0.6 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miSharp left, heading SE.
  16. 1.2 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/cowlick-look-decision-point-out-back-25-km-4608

Trail surface

60% dirt40% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 76°F58°
Precip7%Wind10 mphUV7Humidity40%
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:40 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:33 PM
Sat 77°56°
Sun 81°54°
Mon 87°53°
Tue 90°61°
Wed 78°60° 16%
Thu 93°67°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.9 mi in (~267 min). Leave by 2:46 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Byron, California