AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pogonip Open Space Preserve

Horseback Hill–Horse Trough Spring, 4 sights

4 mi · ▲ 936 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Horseback Hill–Horse Trough Spring, 4 sights is a 4-mile out-and-back in Pogonip Open Space Preserve near Paradise Park, CA. The route passes Pogonip Koi Pond and Horse Trough Spring before reaching Horseback Hill at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It climbs 936 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi95 – 643 ft · steepest grade: 19%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rincon Trail 36.99700, -122.05026
Nearest town Paradise Park, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horseback Hill–Horse Trough Spring, 4 sights

4 mi · ▲ 936 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Elevation 96–643 ft

Out & Back · Pogonip Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: Rincon Trail · 36.99700, -122.05026

Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 74°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:14 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Cowell Circle stop 295 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rincon Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Spring Box Trail, heading E.
  3. 50 ftPass Pogonip Koi Pond.
  4. 50 ftPass Horse Trough Spring.
  5. 0.2 miBear left onto Ohlone Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right onto Fern Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading S.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Harvey West Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 100 ftContinue straight onto Steeple Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miBear right onto Wagner Grove Trail, heading SE.
  15. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftReach Horseback Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 150 ftBear left onto Steeple Trail, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Trail, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  21. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Harvey West Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading NW.
  25. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Fern Trail, heading E.
  26. 150 ftTurn left onto Ohlone Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miBear right onto Spring Box Trail, heading NW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left onto Rincon Trail, heading N.
  29. 0.1 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/horse-trough-spring-pogonip-koi-pond-out-back-5-km-1833

Trail surface

45% dirt11% gravel44% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 74°F50°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity95%
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:14 PM
Tue 70°50°
Wed 70°52°
Thu 73°56°
Fri 81°59°
Sat 80°61°
Sun 71°58°

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Cowell Circle stop 295 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Rincon Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Paradise Park, California