Murchio Gap–Prospectors Gap, 8 sights
14.4 mi · ▲ 4,958 ft · 7 hr 17 min
Murchio Gap–Prospectors Gap, 8 sights is a 14.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Marsh Creek Springs, CA. The route passes Prospectors Gap and Murchio Gap. It climbs 4,958 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Murchio Gap–Prospectors Gap, 8 sights
14.4 mi · ▲ 4,958 ft · 7 hr 17 min
Elevation 863–2,997 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: Prospector's Gap Road · 37.88624, -121.87903
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 99°F / low 74° · precip 0% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:13 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start on Prospector's Gap Road, heading S.
- 2.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bald Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Prospectors Gap.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Back Creek Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Murchio Gap.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Tick Wood Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Hetherington Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Wassermann Trail, heading SE.
- 1 miReach Murchio Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miSharp right onto Hetherington Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Tick Wood Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Back Creek Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Bald Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Prospector's Gap Road, heading N.
- 2.4 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~130 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Prospector's Gap Road Trailhead
- Oak Hills Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 461 ft
- Utility Access Road 3.2 mi · ▲ 1,082 ft
- Prospectors Gap & Prospector's Gap Road 5 mi · ▲ 1,826 ft
- Frog Pond–Frog Pond Road, 5 sights 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,899 ft
- Devil's Pulpit–North Peak Trail, 3 sights 6.6 mi · ▲ 2,245 ft
- Eagle Peak–Eagle Peak Viewpoint, 8 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 3,939 ft
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