Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Barranca Knolls–Johansen Road, 5 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 3,767 ft · 6 hr 59 min

Barranca Knolls–Johansen Road, 5 sights is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. It climbs 3,767 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi472 – 2,067 ft · steepest grade: 29%15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Meteor Trail 37.19262, -122.21978
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Barranca Knolls–Johansen Road, 5 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 3,767 ft · 6 hr 59 min

Elevation 473–2,065 ft

Out & Back · Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Trailhead: Meteor Trail · 37.19262, -122.21978

Weather Aug 3: Partly cloudy, high 85°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

  1. Start on Meteor Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.9 miSharp right onto Middle Ridge Road, heading N.
  3. 0.8 miBear left onto Johansen Road, heading W.
  4. 2.6 miSharp left onto Gazos Creek Road, heading SE.
  5. 350 ftTurn right onto Sandy Point Lookout Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miSharp right onto Cougar Ridge Road, heading S.
  7. 1.9 miTurn left onto Barranca Knolls, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miReach Meteor Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.9 miTurn right onto Cougar Ridge Road, heading NE.
  10. 1.9 miSharp left onto Sandy Point Lookout Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left onto Gazos Creek Road, heading NE.
  12. 350 ftSharp right onto Johansen Road, heading NE.
  13. 2.6 miBear right onto Middle Ridge Road, heading N.
  14. 0.8 miSharp left onto Meteor Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.9 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

28% dirt72% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 85°F52°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity41%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 77°55°
Wed 73°50°
Thu 83°53°
Fri 92°63°
Sat 88°58°
Sun 80°52°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Meteor Trail Trailhead