AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Loma Prieta Grade trail, June 2018.JPG
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The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Aptos Creek Road–Big Stump Gap Trail, 5 sights

14 mi · ▲ 2,311 ft · 5 hr 49 min

Aptos Creek Road–Big Stump Gap Trail, 5 sights is a 14-mile out-and-back in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park near Monte Toyon, CA. It climbs 2,311 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi187 – 1,148 ft · steepest grade: 17%14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Trout Gulch Trail 37.02414, -121.89016
Nearest town Monte Toyon, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aptos Creek Road–Big Stump Gap Trail, 5 sights

14 mi · ▲ 2,311 ft · 5 hr 49 min

Elevation 188–1,149 ft

Out & Back · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Trailhead: Trout Gulch Trail · 37.02414, -121.89016

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start on Trout Gulch Trail, heading N.
  2. 1 miTurn left onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading W.
  3. 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
  4. 0.6 miBear left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miTurn right onto West Ridge Trail, heading S.
  6. 3.7 miBear right onto Ridge Connection Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.4 miBear left onto Big Stump Gap Trail, heading E.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Connection Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miReach Trout Gulch Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Big Stump Gap Trail, heading E.
  11. 150 ftBear right onto Ridge Connection Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  13. 3.7 miTurn left onto Aptos Creek Road, heading SE.
  14. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 200 ftContinue straight onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading N.
  16. 1 miTurn right onto Trout Gulch Trail, heading NE.
  17. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/land-of-medicine-buddha-out-back-26-km-91b5

Trail surface

19% dirt81% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~145 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

More from Trout Gulch Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Monte Toyon, California