Overland Trail & Switchback is a 9.1-mile out-and-back in Onion Creek Experimental Forest near Soda Springs, CA. It climbs 2,272 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi6,769 – 7,878 ft · steepest grade: 31%9.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.32146, -120.37984
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Overland Trail & Switchback
9.1 mi · ▲ 2,272 ft · 4 hr 10 min
Elevation 6,768–7,877 ft
Out & Back · Onion Creek Experimental Forest
Trailhead: 39.32146, -120.37984
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 83°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Summit Connection, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 1.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Razorback, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Overland Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 1.4 miReach Switchback, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Razorback, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Nose Dive, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right onto Summit Connection, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
87% dirt13% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 83°F54°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
82°60°
Wed
82°56°
Thu
86°56°
Fri
86°56°
Sat
87°57°
Sun
87°55°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 7:11 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail–Summit Connection Loop, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 583 ft
- Pine Marten 3 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Serene Lakes & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Benches Viewpoint & Switchback 4.6 mi · ▲ 686 ft
- Overload & Switchback via Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 707 ft
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Hikes near Soda Springs, California