Gold Hill Fire Road–McNears Fire Trail, 4 sights
8.2 mi · ▲ 2,243 ft · 3 hr 51 min
Gold Hill Fire Road–McNears Fire Trail, 4 sights is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in China Camp State Park near McNears Beach, CA. It climbs 2,243 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 44/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gold Hill Fire Road–McNears Fire Trail, 4 sights
8.2 mi · ▲ 2,243 ft · 3 hr 51 min
Elevation 65–969 ft
Out & Back · China Camp State Park
Trailhead: 37.98591, -122.48474
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:17 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Gold Hill Fire Road, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Quercus III, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Gold Hill Fire Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Quercus IV, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Ridge Fire Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Oak Ridge Drive, heading E.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto McNears Fire Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miReach Gold Hill Fire Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Oak Ridge Drive, heading NE.
- 1.3 miBear left onto Ridge Fire Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Quercus IV, heading W.
- 0.8 miBear left onto Gold Hill Fire Road, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Quercus III, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Gold Hill Fire Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 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 1.1 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 8:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Gold Hill Fire Road & Quercus III 4.1 mi · ▲ 1,317 ft
- Back Ranch Fire Trail–Gold Hill Fire Road, 4 sights 5 mi · ▲ 1,493 ft
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Hikes near McNears Beach, California