AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Sunset. View from hills toward Ocean - panoramio.jpg
Vadim Manuylov · CC BY-SA 3.0
Castle Rock State Park

Emily Smith Observation Point–Loughry Woods Trail, 3 sights

8.5 mi · ▲ 1,533 ft · 3 hr 36 min

Emily Smith Observation Point–Loughry Woods Trail, 3 sights is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Castle Rock State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. The route reaches Emily Smith Observation Point at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 1,533 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,369 – 2,854 ft · steepest grade: 15%8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Skyline Trail 37.25795, -122.12088
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Emily Smith Observation Point–Loughry Woods Trail, 3 sights

8.5 mi · ▲ 1,533 ft · 3 hr 36 min

Elevation 2,369–2,854 ft

Out & Back · Castle Rock State Park

Trailhead: Skyline Trail · 37.25795, -122.12088

Weather Sep 20: Fog, high 69°F / low 47° · precip 1% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Skyline Trail, heading SE.
  2. 1.5 miSharp right onto Loughry Woods Trail, heading S.
  3. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Service Road Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 200 ftReach Emily Smith Observation Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 1.2 miTurn right onto Service Road Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Loughry Woods Trail, heading W.
  9. 1.6 miSharp left onto Skyline Trail, heading E.
  10. 1.3 miArrive 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/emily-smith-observation-point-loughry-woods-trail-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

93% dirt7% gravel

Weather

FogTemperature 69°F47°
Precip1%Wind10 mphUV6Humidity73%
Hourly temperature
70°45°
Sunrise 6:55 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:10 PM
Mon 62°47°
Tue 79°48°
Wed 82°47°
Thu 80°48°
Fri 77°48°
Sat 79°44°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:27 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Skyline Trail Trailhead

Hikes near San Lorenzo Park, California