Woodlands Special Treatment Area
Observatory Trail
8.1 mi · ▲ 1,129 ft · 3 hr 16 min
Observatory Trail is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Woodlands Special Treatment Area near Whiskey Springs, CA. It climbs 1,129 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Observatory Trail
8.1 mi · ▲ 1,129 ft · 3 hr 16 min
Elevation 538–916 ft
Out & Back · Woodlands Special Treatment Area
Trailhead: 39.34626, -123.71665
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 67°F / low 49° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 1.7 miBear right onto Observatory Trail, heading S.
- 1 miBear right onto Railroad Gulch Road, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Parallel Action, heading NW.
- 1.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Railroad Gulch Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear left onto Observatory Trail, heading S.
- 1 miBear left, heading N.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 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 right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:22 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:43 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:10 PM.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Observatory Trail 5.8 mi · ▲ 1,094 ft
- Observatory Trail 5.8 mi · ▲ 1,094 ft
- Forest History Trail 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,219 ft
- Observatory Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 1,129 ft
- Observatory Trail 7.2 mi · ▲ 1,129 ft
- Cook House Trail & Emerald Highway 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,827 ft
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