AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Mount Chual–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

10.9 mi · ▲ 1,537 ft · 4 hr 24 min

Mount Chual–Cathermola Road, 3 sights is a 10.9-mile out-and-back in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near The Willows, CA. The route reaches Mount Chual at the turnaround, 5.4 miles in. It climbs 1,537 ft. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,864 – 3,553 ft11.2 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Chual–Cathermola Road, 3 sights

10.9 mi · ▲ 1,537 ft · 4 hr 24 min

Elevation 2,865–3,552 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. 3.3 miContinue straight onto Loma Prieta Road, heading SE.
  10. 1.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  12. 350 ftReach Mount Chual, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  14. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading W.
  15. 3.3 miContinue straight onto Cathermola Road, heading NW.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Umunhum Loma Prieta Road, heading NW.
  17. 0.8 miBear left, heading NW.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  21. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  22. 350 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/mount-chual-out-back-17-km-3815

Trail surface

10% dirt90% 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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