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
Getting there
Directions
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 Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 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
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rowton Peak Trail Trailhead
- Benches Viewpoint–Overload Loop, 3 sights 1.8 mi · ▲ 342 ft
- Serene Lakes–Reindeer, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 204 ft
- Switchback 3.4 mi · ▲ 284 ft
- Rowton–Aster Loop, 5 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 759 ft
- Pine Marten via Switchback 4.8 mi · ▲ 388 ft
- Benches Viewpoint–Bogus Basin Loop, 7 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 697 ft
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