AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Loma Prieta–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

11.6 mi · ▲ 1,718 ft · 4 hr 44 min

Loma Prieta–Cathermola Road, 3 sights is an 11.6-mile out-and-back in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near The Willows, CA. The route reaches Loma Prieta at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 1,718 ft. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,864 – 3,786 ft11.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.14446, -121.89458
Nearest town The Willows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Loma Prieta–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

11.6 mi · ▲ 1,718 ft · 4 hr 44 min

Elevation 2,865–3,787 ft

Out & Back · Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Trailhead: 37.14446, -121.89458

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  3. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  7. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Cathermola Road, heading S.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  9. 3.9 miTurn left onto Loma Prieta Road, heading SW.
  10. 0.9 miReach Loma Prieta, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 1.2 miSharp left onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading N.
  13. 2.7 miContinue straight onto Cathermola Road, heading NW.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading N.
  15. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  20. 250 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/loma-prieta-out-back-19-km-7407

Trail surface

28% dirt72% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:53 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:13 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:42 PM.

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