AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Inklein · CC BY-SA 4.0
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 6 sights

7.7 mi · ▲ 1,483 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route passes Alpine Pond, Ipiwa Viewpoint, Horseshoe Lake and Horseshoe Viewpoint. It climbs 1,483 ft. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,008 – 2,494 ft8.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Audrey's Way 37.30733, -122.19825
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 6 sights

7.7 mi · ▲ 1,483 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Elevation 2,009–2,494 ft

Out & Back · Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: Audrey's Way · 37.30733, -122.19825

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 89°F / low 66° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Audrey's Way, heading N.
  2. 250 ftTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 0.3 miBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.5 miPass Alpine Pond.
  6. 400 ftContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading SW.
  8. 350 ftTurn right onto Ipiwa Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miPass Ipiwa Viewpoint.
  10. 450 ftContinue straight onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.7 miPass Horseshoe Lake.
  12. 500 ftSharp right onto Lambert Creek Trail, heading SE.
  13. 100 ftPass Horseshoe Viewpoint.
  14. 450 ftContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading N.
  15. 450 ftContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miReach Ipiwa Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading W.
  18. 450 ftContinue straight onto Lambert Creek Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miSharp left onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading NW.
  26. 0.8 miTurn left onto Audrey's Way, heading S.
  27. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/horseshoe-lake-horseshoe-lake-out-back-4-lakes-9-km-1c50

Trail surface

57% dirt1% gravel42% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 89°F66°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 83°63°
Wed 81°50°
Thu 89°49°
Fri 95°56°
Sat 92°52°
Sun 85°48°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:56 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:16 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:44 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Audrey's Way Trailhead

Hikes near Vista Verde, California