AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort 23 2012-12-20.jpg
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Royal Gorge

Mount Disney–Rowton, 6 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 2,134 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Mount Disney–Rowton, 6 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes and Rowton before reaching Mount Disney at the turnaround, 4.8 miles in. It climbs 2,134 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,877 – 7,933 ft · steepest grade: 27%10.8 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Disney–Rowton, 6 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 2,134 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Elevation 6,876–7,933 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 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto Kilborn Forrest Access, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Reindeer, heading SW.
  8. 1 miPass Serene Lakes.
  9. 200 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading N.
  10. 300 ftSharp right onto Tiny Tim, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.4 miPass Rowton.
  20. 250 ftTurn left onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading S.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  23. 400 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  24. 350 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading SE.
  25. 1.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right onto Overland Trail, heading E.
  27. 450 ftBear right, heading E.
  28. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  29. 0.1 miReach Mount Disney, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 200 ftBear left, heading E.
  31. 500 ftBear right, heading SE.
  32. 500 ftBear right, heading E.
  33. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  34. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  35. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Razorback, heading NW.
  36. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  37. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading SW.
  38. 400 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Lolas Lookout, heading W.
  40. 50 ftTurn right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading W.
  41. 0.5 miTurn left onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  42. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading W.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  45. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  46. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SW.
  47. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  48. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading W.
  49. 0.2 miSharp left onto Switchback, heading NW.
  50. 300 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading NW.
  51. 1.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  52. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  53. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  54. 250 ftTurn right onto Kilborn Forrest Access, heading N.
  55. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  56. 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
  57. 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-disney-rowton-out-back-4-beaches-15-km

Trail surface

87% dirt13% 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 3.6 mi in (~114 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Soda Springs, California