AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Chalk Mountain–Clark Viewpoint, 7 sights

12.6 mi · ▲ 3,427 ft · 5 hr 55 min

Chalk Mountain–Clark Viewpoint, 7 sights is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Swanton, CA. The route passes Clark Viewpoint, Westridge Viewpoint, Westridge Viewpoint and Chalk Mountain before reaching Chalks Truck Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 3,427 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi52 – 1,614 ft · steepest grade: 24%12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Skyline To The Sea Bypass Trail 37.10164, -122.27789
Nearest town Swanton, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Chalk Mountain–Clark Viewpoint, 7 sights

12.6 mi · ▲ 3,427 ft · 5 hr 55 min

Elevation 53–1,613 ft

Out & Back · Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Trailhead: Skyline To The Sea Bypass Trail · 37.10164, -122.27789

Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 67°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Skyline To The Sea Bypass Trail, heading NW.
  2. 2.3 miPass Clark Viewpoint.
  3. 100 ftContinue straight onto Westridge Trail, heading NE.
  4. 3.4 miPass Westridge Viewpoint.
  5. 0.5 miPass Westridge Viewpoint.
  6. 0.1 miSharp right onto Chalks Truck Trail, heading NW.
  7. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftPass Chalks Truck Viewpoint.
  9. 150 ftReach Chalk Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  11. 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
  12. 400 ftContinue straight onto Westridge Trail, heading E.
  13. 3.9 miContinue straight onto Clark Connector Trail, heading S.
  14. 2.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/high-viewpoint-out-back-26-km-0374

Trail surface

22% dirt78% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 67°F52°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity100%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 64°56°
Wed 74°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 90°62°
Sat 87°61°
Sun 83°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~85 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Skyline To The Sea Bypass Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Swanton, California