Onion Creek Experimental Forest
Crows Nest & Switchback
4.4 mi · ▲ 1,196 ft · 2 hr 4 min
Crows Nest & Switchback is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Onion Creek Experimental Forest near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Crows Nest at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 1,196 ft, with sections as steep as 38% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Crows Nest & Switchback
4.4 mi · ▲ 1,196 ft · 2 hr 4 min
Elevation 6,927–7,833 ft
Out & Back · Onion Creek Experimental Forest
Trailhead: Switchback · 39.31189, -120.38021
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
- Start on Switchback, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Razorback, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miReach Crows Nest, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Nose Dive, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading W.
- 0.1 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 0.5 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 7:31 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:39 PM — 3 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Switchback Trailhead
- Nose Dive–Switchback Loop, 3 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 547 ft
- Rowton–Benches Viewpoint, 6 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 996 ft
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