Horseback Hill–Prairie Viewpoint, 10 sights
6.2 mi · ▲ 1,195 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Horseback Hill–Prairie Viewpoint, 10 sights is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Pogonip Open Space Preserve near Rincon, CA. The route passes Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench, Pogonip Koi Pond and Prairie Viewpoint before reaching Horseback Hill at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 1,195 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Horseback Hill–Prairie Viewpoint, 10 sights
6.2 mi · ▲ 1,195 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Elevation 96–895 ft
Out & Back · Pogonip Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: 37.00329, -122.05577
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 73°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Crown Circle stop 340 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Fuel Break Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto U-Con Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Chuck Beebe Scenic Bench.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Rincon Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Lime Kiln Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rincon Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Spring Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miPass Pogonip Koi Pond.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Spring Box Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Ohlone Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Spring Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Brayshaw Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Prairie Viewpoint.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Harvey West Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Old Stage Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Steeple Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Wagner Grove Trail, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftReach Horseback Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftBear left onto Steeple Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Harvey West Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Pogonip Creek Nature Loop, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Prairie Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Brayshaw Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Spring Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Ohlone Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Spring Box Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Spring Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Rincon Trail, heading W.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Lime Kiln Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Rincon Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto U-Con Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Fuel Break Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 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: Crown Circle stop 340 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Prometheus & Upper Quarry via Crown Nine Path 0.9 mi · ▲ 197 ft
- Upper Quarry–North Fuel Break Road, 3 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 441 ft
- Broncos–Chinquapin Road, 6 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 384 ft
- Upper Quarry–Camper Park, 5 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 1,539 ft
- Barking Dogs–Chinquapin Road, 4 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 1,991 ft
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