Royal Gorge

Hellman Way–Hewlett Rim Trail Loop, 4 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 682 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Hellman Way–Hewlett Rim Trail Loop, 4 sights is a 5.5-mile loop in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. It climbs 682 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,762 – 7,143 ft · steepest grade: 19%5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hellman Way–Hewlett Rim Trail Loop, 4 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 682 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Elevation 6,762–7,141 ft

Loop · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto Kilborn Forrest Access, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Reindeer, heading SW.
  8. 0.9 miBear right onto Sterlings Canyon, heading S.
  9. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 250 ftBear right onto Sterling's Canyon Road, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sterling's Canyon Road, heading S.
  13. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sterlings Canyon, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sterlings Canyon, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Hellman Way, heading SW.
  17. 1.4 miBear left onto Hewlett Rim Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miThe loop closes 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

ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:50 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM — 11 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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