Lone Tree Prairie–Aptos Creek Viewpoint, 7 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Soquel Demonstration State Forest near Day Valley, CA. The route passes Santa Rosalia Viewpoint and Lone Tree Prairie before reaching Aptos Creek Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It climbs 2,094 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi1,326 – 2,595 ft · steepest grade: 23%12.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Hihns Sulphur Spring Road 37.08196, -121.85056
Nearest town Day Valley, CA
Directions
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Lone Tree Prairie–Aptos Creek Viewpoint, 7 sights
11.8 mi · ▲ 2,094 ft · 4 hr 59 min
Elevation 1,325–2,596 ft
Out & Back · Soquel Demonstration State Forest
Trailhead: Hihns Sulphur Spring Road · 37.08196, -121.85056
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Hihns Sulphur Spring Road, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Hihn's Mill Road, heading W.
- 2.1 miContinue straight onto Corral Road, heading E.
- 1.7 miContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miPass Santa Rosalia Viewpoint.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Upper Bacon Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miPass Aptos Creek Viewpoint.
- 200 ftReach Lone Tree Prairie, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Aptos Creek Fire Road, heading NE.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Corral Road, heading SW.
- 1.7 miContinue straight onto Hihn's Sulphur Spring Road, heading S.
- 2.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hihns Sulphur Spring Road, heading E.
- 0.5 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
100% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Hihns Sulphur Spring Road Trailhead
- Hihn's Mill Road 5.4 mi · ▲ 613 ft
- Ridge Viewpoint & Hihn's Sulphur Spring Road via Hihn's Mill Road 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,326 ft
- Hihn's Sulphur Spring Road & Ridge Trail via Hihn's Mill Road 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,297 ft
- Santa Rosalia Mountain–Santa Rosalia Viewpoint, 5 sights 11.7 mi · ▲ 1,789 ft
- Santa Rosalia Viewpoint–Sand Point Overlook, 7 sights 16.2 mi · ▲ 2,705 ft
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