AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Annette Teng · CC BY 3.0
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 9 sights

16 mi · ▲ 3,089 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 9 sights is a 16-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 3,089 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,490 – 2,589 ft · steepest grade: 24%16.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ipiwa Trail 37.31264, -122.18738
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ipiwa Viewpoint–Horseshoe Viewpoint, 9 sights

16 mi · ▲ 3,089 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Elevation 1,489–2,588 ft

Out & Back · Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: Ipiwa Trail · 37.31264, -122.18738

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 84°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Drinking water at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ipiwa Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Alpine Pond.
  3. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Ipiwa Viewpoint.
  5. 0.8 miPass Horseshoe Lake.
  6. 50 ftSharp right onto Lambert Creek Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.1 miPass Horseshoe Viewpoint.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading SE.
  9. 450 ftContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Chestnut Trail, heading SE.
  12. 1.6 miTurn right onto Peters Creek Trail, heading S.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading N.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading N.
  16. 150 ftBear left onto Portola Heights Road, heading N.
  17. 0.6 miTurn right onto Long Ridge Road, heading SE.
  18. 2.1 miTurn left onto Rhus Road, heading W.
  19. 0.9 miReach Ipiwa Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.9 miTurn right onto Long Ridge Road, heading NW.
  21. 2.1 miTurn left onto Portola Heights Road, heading E.
  22. 0.6 miBear right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading N.
  23. 150 ftContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading NE.
  24. 100 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.4 miTurn left onto Peters Creek Trail, heading S.
  26. 450 ftTurn left onto Chestnut Trail, heading SE.
  27. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Tree Farm Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Loop Trail, heading W.
  31. 450 ftContinue straight onto Lambert Creek Trail, heading NW.
  32. 0.1 miSharp left onto Sunny Jim Trail, heading NW.
  33. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Ipiwa Trail, heading NW.
  34. 0.3 miArrive 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/ipiwa-viewpoint-wallace-stegner-bench-out-back-9-lakes-19-km-46c1

Trail surface

14% dirt86% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 84°F63°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity31%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Wed 81°50°
Thu 89°50°
Fri 94°56°
Sat 90°53°
Sun 82°46°
Mon 77°46°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 7:33 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Drinking water at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Vista Verde, California