AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Crows Nest–Rowton, 5 summits

9 mi · ▲ 1,908 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Crows Nest–Rowton, 5 summits is a 9-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes and Rowton before reaching Crows Nest at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 1,908 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,877 – 7,832 ft · steepest grade: 37%9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crows Nest–Rowton, 5 summits

9 mi · ▲ 1,908 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Elevation 6,876–7,833 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 400 ftTurn right onto Reindeer, heading E.
  9. 1 miPass Serene Lakes.
  10. 200 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading NE.
  11. 300 ftSharp right onto Tiny Tim, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading E.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading E.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.4 miPass Rowton.
  21. 250 ftTurn left onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  24. 350 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading SE.
  26. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading SE.
  28. 1.5 miReach Crows Nest, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  30. 150 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading SW.
  31. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading S.
  33. 350 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Lolas Lookout, heading S.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading S.
  36. 0.5 miTurn left onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NW.
  40. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading NW.
  41. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NW.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading NW.
  43. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading NW.
  44. 0.2 miSharp left onto Switchback, heading W.
  45. 350 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading W.
  46. 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  47. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  48. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  49. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  50. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  51. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  52. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  53. 350 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/crows-nest-rowton-out-back-15-km-2eac

Trail surface

91% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.9 mi in (~124 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:14 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 Soda Springs, California