AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Crystal Peak–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

9.9 mi · ▲ 1,474 ft · 4 hr 2 min

Crystal Peak–Cathermola Road, 3 sights is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near The Willows, CA. The route reaches Crystal Peak at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 1,474 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,864 – 3,599 ft · steepest grade: 17%10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.14446, -121.89458
Nearest town The Willows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crystal Peak–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

9.9 mi · ▲ 1,474 ft · 4 hr 2 min

Elevation 2,865–3,600 ft

Out & Back · Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: 37.14446, -121.89458

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  3. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  7. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Cathermola Road, heading S.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  9. 3.3 miContinue straight onto Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  10. 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miReach Crystal Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  13. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading NW.
  14. 3.3 miContinue straight onto Cathermola Road, heading NW.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading N.
  16. 0.8 miBear left, heading NW.
  17. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  20. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  21. 450 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/crystal-peak-out-back-16-km-2c3c

Trail surface

12% dirt2% paved86% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:53 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:13 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:42 PM.

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