Royal Gorge

Lyle's Lookout & Hewlett Rim Trail

6.4 mi · ▲ 684 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Lyle's Lookout & Hewlett Rim Trail is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Lyle's Lookout. It climbs 684 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,687 – 7,143 ft6.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lyle's Lookout & Hewlett Rim Trail

6.4 mi · ▲ 684 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Elevation 6,686–7,141 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miReach Lyle's Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.6 miTurn left onto Snow Mountain, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 1.5 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.6 miBear left onto Hewlett Rim Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  18. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 0.5 miSharp right, heading NE.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 0.1 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

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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