AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint

11.9 mi · ▲ 2,597 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint is an 11.9-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. The route reaches Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 2,597 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,240 – 7,746 ft · steepest grade: 28%12.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.24975, -120.19060
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint

11.9 mi · ▲ 2,597 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Elevation 6,240–7,748 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.24975, -120.19060

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 57° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading E.
  4. 1.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miSharp left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.7 miTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  11. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 300 ftBear left onto Mount Watson Boulevard, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  14. 200 ftReach Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  16. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
  18. 0.7 miTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
  20. 1.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miSharp left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading E.
  23. 1.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.3 miArrive 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-watson-boulevard-viewpoint-out-back

Trail surface

96% dirt4% paved

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F57°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Wed 82°56°
Thu 87°54°
Fri 88°54°
Sat 88°55°
Sun 86°54°
Mon 85°52°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ponderosa Palisades, California