Prairie Viewpoint–Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench, 9 sights is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in Pogonip Open Space Preserve near Santa Cruz, CA. The route passes Prairie Viewpoint, Pogonip Koi Pond and Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench. It climbs 1,251 ft. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi105 – 1,125 ft11.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Emma McCrary Trail 36.99046, -122.03680
Nearest town Santa Cruz, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Prairie Viewpoint–Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench, 9 sights
10.8 mi · ▲ 1,251 ft · 4 hr 14 min
Elevation 103–1,125 ft
Out & Back · Pogonip Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Emma McCrary Trail · 36.99046, -122.03680
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 72°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:14 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Encinal Street & Du Bois Street stop 347 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Golf Club Drive, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Prairie Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass Prairie Viewpoint.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Brayshaw Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Spring Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Ohlone Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Pogonip Koi Pond.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Spring Box Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Spring Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Rincon Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Lime Kiln Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Rincon Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto U-Con Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Fuel Break Road, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Chinquapin Road, heading W.
- 1.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Chinquapin Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miReach Prairie Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Chinquapin Road, heading NE.
- 1.9 miTurn left onto Fuel Break Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto U-Con Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Rincon Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Lime Kiln Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rincon Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Spring Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Spring Box Trail, heading SE.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Ohlone Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Spring Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Brayshaw Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Golf Club Drive, heading SW.
- 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
47% gravel19% dirt2% grass32% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 72°F55°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity93%
Hourly temperature
75°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:14 PM
Tue
67°55°
Wed
68°54°
Thu
73°59°
Fri
74°63°
Sat
71°61°
Sun
70°59°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Encinal Street & Du Bois Street stop 347 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Emma McCrary Trail Trailhead
- "The Lost Boys" Grandpa's House & Golf Club Drive Loop via Brayshaw Trail 1.2 mi · ▲ 142 ft
- Horse Trough Spring–Pogonip Koi Pond, 5 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 594 ft
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