Horseshoe Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 7 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route passes Horseshoe Lake before reaching Horseshoe Viewpoint at the turnaround, 8.1 miles in. It climbs 3,027 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,289 – 2,323 ft · steepest grade: 18%16.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Canyon Trail 37.32355, -122.17420
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Horseshoe Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 7 sights
16.1 mi · ▲ 3,027 ft · 6 hr 53 min
Elevation 1,291–2,322 ft
Out & Back · Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Canyon Trail · 37.32355, -122.17420
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 90°F / low 66° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
No dogs on part of this route
- Start on Canyon Trail, heading SE.
- 3 miTurn right onto Grizzly Flat Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Grizzly Flat Trail South, heading S.
- 1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Chestnut Trail, heading N.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Horseshoe Lake.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftReach Horseshoe Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Chestnut Trail, heading SW.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Peters Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Grizzly Flat Trail South, heading NE.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Grizzly Flat Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Canyon Trail, heading NW.
- 2.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
33% dirt67% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 90°F66°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity32%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue
84°63°
Wed
81°50°
Thu
89°49°
Fri
95°57°
Sat
93°52°
Sun
85°48°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.5 mi in (~199 min). Leave by 4:36 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Canyon Trail Trailhead
- Stevens Creek Nature Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 502 ft
- Canyon Trail–Lost Creek Loop Trail, 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 275 ft
- Skid Road Trail via Stevens Creek Nature Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 762 ft
- Page Mill Trail & Pony Tracks Fire Road 5.4 mi · ▲ 590 ft
- Turtle Rock–Wallace Stegner Bench, 8 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 2,985 ft
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Hikes near Vista Verde, California