Horseback Hill & Emma McCrary Trail
2.8 mi · ▲ 667 ft · 1 hr 16 min
Horseback Hill & Emma McCrary Trail is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Pogonip Open Space Preserve near Pasatiempo, CA. The route reaches Horseback Hill at the turnaround, 1.4 miles in. It climbs 667 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Horseback Hill & Emma McCrary Trail
2.8 mi · ▲ 667 ft · 1 hr 16 min
Elevation 37–244 ft
Out & Back · Pogonip Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: 36.99471, -122.03510
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: Santa Cruz METRO Administration Offices stop 541 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Emma McCrary Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Lower Meadow Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear left onto Emma McCrary Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Golf Club Drive, heading S.
- 500 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Harvey West Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Steeple Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Wagner Grove Trail, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftReach Horseback Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Steeple Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Harvey West Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Golf Club Drive, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Emma McCrary Trail, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right onto Rail Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Lower Meadow Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Emma McCrary Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 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
Weather
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Santa Cruz METRO Administration Offices stop 541 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Emma McCrary Trail & Pogonip Creek Nature Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 294 ft
- Train Engine & Emma McCrary Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 468 ft
- "The Lost Boys" Grandpa's House & Fern Trail via Brayshaw Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 353 ft
- Coolidge Drive Lookout–Pogonip Koi Pond, 7 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 587 ft
- Pogonip Koi Pond–"The Lost Boys" Grandpa's House, 4 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 694 ft
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