El Sombroso via Woods Trail is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near Twin Creeks, CA. The route reaches El Sombroso at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It climbs 2,795 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 84/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi1,716 – 2,963 ft · steepest grade: 23%12.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 37.15545, -121.88933
Nearest town Twin Creeks, CA
Directions
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El Sombroso via Woods Trail
11.9 mi · ▲ 2,795 ft · 5 hr 22 min
Elevation 1,715–2,964 ft
Out & Back · Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: 37.15545, -121.88933
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
No dogs on part of this route
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Mount Umunhum Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miSharp left onto Barlow Road, heading N.
- 1.8 miSharp left onto Woods Trail, heading S.
- 3 miReach El Sombroso, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3 miSharp right onto Barlow Road, heading N.
- 1.8 miSharp right onto Mount Umunhum Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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
100% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.9 mi in (~187 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Mount Umunhum Trail via Barlow Road 2.3 mi · ▲ 366 ft
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