Lake Sylvia–Bloodsucker Trail, 3 sights
10.4 mi · ▲ 1,785 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Lake Sylvia–Bloodsucker Trail, 3 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Desolation Wilderness near Lower Forni, CA. The route reaches Lake Sylvia at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,785 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Sylvia–Bloodsucker Trail, 3 sights
10.4 mi · ▲ 1,785 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Elevation 6,931–8,059 ft
Out & Back · Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: 38.84223, -120.23558
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 59° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Bloodsucker Trail, heading E.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Lyons Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 2.6 miContinue straight onto Lake Sylvia Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miReach Lake Sylvia, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lyons Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 2.6 miTurn right onto Bloodsucker Trail, heading W.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 7:21 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Bloodsucker Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 711 ft
- Lyons Lake–Bloodsucker Trail, 4 sights 10.5 mi · ▲ 2,111 ft
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Hikes near Lower Forni, California