Emily Smith Observation Point & Service Road Trail via Ridge Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Castle Rock State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. The route reaches Emily Smith Observation Point at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 1,015 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi2,385 – 2,907 ft · steepest grade: 16%5.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Skyline Trail 37.24439, -122.10887
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA
Directions
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Emily Smith Observation Point & Service Road Trail via Ridge Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 1,015 ft · 2 hr 14 min
Elevation 2,387–2,906 ft
Out & Back · Castle Rock State Park
Trailhead: Skyline Trail · 37.24439, -122.10887
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 71° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Skyline Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Service Road Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Loughry Woods Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Service Road Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 200 ftReach Emily Smith Observation Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Service Road Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Loughry Woods Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Service Road Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Skyline Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 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
96% dirt1% paved3% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 87°F71°
Feels like82°Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue
84°65°
Wed
90°50°
Thu
94°50°
Fri
99°57°
Sat
97°59°
Sun
92°51°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:55 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:15 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:44 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Skyline Trail Trailhead
- Summit Rock–Lookout Tower, 3 summits 2.6 mi · ▲ 414 ft
- Saratoga Gap Trail & Service Road Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 840 ft
- Lookout Tower–Loughry Woods Trail, 4 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 829 ft
- Goat Rock Overlook & Service Road Trail via Ridge Trail 5.9 mi · ▲ 1,212 ft
- Lookout Tower–Goat Rock Overlook, 3 summits 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,412 ft
- Goat Rock–Lookout Tower, 5 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,821 ft
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