The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Five Finger Falls–Olive Springs, 6 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 2,719 ft · 5 hr 34 min
Five Finger Falls–Olive Springs, 6 sights is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park near The Willows, CA. The route passes Olive Springs and Sand Point Overlook before reaching Five Finger Falls at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 2,719 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Five Finger Falls–Olive Springs, 6 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 2,719 ft · 5 hr 34 min
Elevation 300–1,620 ft
Out & Back · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Trailhead: Hinckley Basin Fire Road · 37.05490, -121.92401
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
- Start on Hinckley Basin Fire Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miPass Olive Springs.
- 2.6 miPass Sand Point Overlook.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto White's Lagoon Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Big Slide Trail, heading S.
- 2.2 miReach Five Finger Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto White's Lagoon Road, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading NW.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Hinckley Basin Fire Road, heading W.
- 2.8 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 2.1 mi in (~77 min). Leave by 6:36 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Hinckley Basin Fire Road Trailhead
- Olive Springs–Sand Point Overlook, 5 sights 9.6 mi · ▲ 1,875 ft
- Lone Tree Prairie–Olive Springs, 6 sights 12 mi · ▲ 2,411 ft
- Santa Rosalia Mountain–Olive Springs, 6 sights 13.7 mi · ▲ 2,537 ft
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