AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Hellman Way–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail Loop, 3 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 711 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Hellman Way–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail Loop, 3 sights is a 6.8-mile loop in Royal Gorge near Kingvale, CA. It climbs 711 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,687 – 7,018 ft · steepest grade: 16%7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail 39.31096, -120.41002
Nearest town Kingvale, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hellman Way–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail Loop, 3 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 711 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Elevation 6,686–7,017 ft

Loop · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail · 39.31096, -120.41002

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 83°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start on Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  7. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  9. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 350 ftTurn right onto Reindeer, heading SE.
  12. 0.9 miBear right onto Sterlings Canyon, heading S.
  13. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 250 ftBear right onto Sterling's Canyon Road, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sterling's Canyon Road, heading SW.
  17. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sterlings Canyon, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sterlings Canyon, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Hellman Way, heading SW.
  21. 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  24. 1.5 miTurn right onto Snow Mountain, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miSharp left onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading N.
  27. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/hellman-way-memorial-overland-emigrant-trail-loop-3-sights-11-km

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F54°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°60°
Wed 82°56°
Thu 86°56°
Fri 86°56°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 88°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 7:00 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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