Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 3 sights
4 mi · ▲ 405 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 3 sights is a 4-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes before reaching Lyle's Lookout at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It climbs 405 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi6,877 – 7,018 ft · steepest grade: 18%4.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rowton Peak Trail 39.29456, -120.38100
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 3 sights
4 mi · ▲ 405 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Elevation 6,876–7,017 ft
Out & Back · Royal Gorge
Trailhead: Rowton Peak Trail · 39.29456, -120.38100
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rowton Peak Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading S.
- 300 ftPass Serene Lakes.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miReach Lyle's Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Switchback, heading SW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive 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 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rowton Peak Trail Trailhead
- Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Petroglyph Cliff, 8 sights 14.7 mi · ▲ 2,409 ft
- Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 8 sights 12 mi · ▲ 1,822 ft
- Serene Lakes–Reindeer, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 204 ft
- Kidd Lake–Serene Lakes, 4 lakes 7.7 mi · ▲ 764 ft
- Switchback 3.4 mi · ▲ 284 ft
- Pine Marten via Switchback 4.8 mi · ▲ 388 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Soda Springs, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Soda Springs, California