AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Horseshoe lake - panoramio.jpg
Vadim Manuylov · CC BY-SA 3.0
Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

Horseshoe Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 6 sights

14.9 mi · ▲ 3,502 ft · 6 hr 43 min

Horseshoe Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 6 sights is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route passes Horseshoe Lake and Horseshoe Viewpoint. It climbs 3,502 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi784 – 2,412 ft · steepest grade: 30%15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Horseshoe Loop Trail 37.31003, -122.17601
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horseshoe Viewpoint–Horseshoe Lake, 6 sights

14.9 mi · ▲ 3,502 ft · 6 hr 43 min

Elevation 785–2,412 ft

Out & Back · Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: Horseshoe Loop Trail · 37.31003, -122.17601

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 90°F / low 67° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

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

  1. Start on Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Horseshoe Lake.
  3. 0.2 miPass Horseshoe Viewpoint.
  4. 450 ftContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Chestnut Trail, heading SE.
  7. 1.6 miTurn right onto Peters Creek Trail, heading S.
  8. 450 ftTurn right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading N.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading N.
  11. 150 ftBear left onto Portola Heights Road, heading SW.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right onto Long Ridge Road, heading SE.
  13. 3.8 miSharp left onto Old Page Mill Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.3 miReach Horseshoe Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.3 miSharp right onto Long Ridge Road, heading NE.
  16. 3.8 miTurn left onto Portola Heights Road, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miBear right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading E.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading E.
  19. 100 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.4 miTurn left onto Peters Creek Trail, heading SE.
  21. 450 ftTurn left onto Chestnut Trail, heading N.
  22. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading SE.
  23. 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading W.
  26. 500 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-viewpoint-horseshoe-lake-out-back-3-lakes-24-km

Trail surface

10% dirt90% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 90°F67°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity32%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 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 3.1 mi in (~94 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

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

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Horseshoe Loop Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Vista Verde, California