Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 4 sights
15.6 mi · ▲ 3,723 ft · 7 hr 4 min
Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 4 sights is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed near Ulmar, CA. The route passes Cowlick Look and Decision Point. It climbs 3,723 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cowlick Look–Decision Point, 4 sights
15.6 mi · ▲ 3,723 ft · 7 hr 4 min
Elevation 763–2,168 ft
Out & Back · Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Watershed
Trailhead: Black Hills Trail · 37.77314, -121.74058
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 72°F / low 55° · precip 8% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:33 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Black Hills Trail, heading W.
- 5.8 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.
- 400 ftBear right onto Miwok Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miReach Cowlick Look, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Blue Oak Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Whipsnake Loop, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Black Hills Trail, heading W.
- 5.7 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 1.4 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Black Hills Trail Trailhead
- Black Hills Trail–Homestead Trail, 3 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 554 ft
- Jabba the Hut Rock–Marsh Creek Headwaters Spring, 5 sights 14.8 mi · ▲ 3,418 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Ulmar, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Ulmar, California