AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Van Damme, State Park - 3544096338.jpg
Jimmy Coupe · CC BY 2.0
Van Damme State Park

Peterson Viewpoint–Van Damme State Park Beach, 4 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 180 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Peterson Viewpoint–Van Damme State Park Beach, 4 sights is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Van Damme State Park near Little River, CA. The route passes Van Damme State Park Beach, Van Damme State Park Beach and Peterson Viewpoint. It is mostly level, with 180 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi36 – 184 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Peterson Trail 39.27679, -123.79159
Nearest town Little River, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Peterson Viewpoint–Van Damme State Park Beach, 4 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 180 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Elevation 37–184 ft

Out & Back · Van Damme State Park

Trailhead: Peterson Trail · 39.27679, -123.79159

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 66°F / low 52° · precip 1% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Peterson Trail, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Van Damme State Park Beach.
  3. 0.3 miPass Van Damme State Park Beach.
  4. 0.3 miPass Peterson Viewpoint.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  7. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Spring Ranch Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miReach Peterson Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  15. 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  17. 0.4 miBear left onto Peterson Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.6 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/peterson-viewpoint-van-damme-state-park-beach-out-back-via-spring-ranch-trail

Trail surface

68% dirt8% gravel24% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 66°F52°
Precip1%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity89%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat 62°53°
Sun 65°50°
Mon 79°47°
Tue 76°53°
Wed 73°50°
Thu 80°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:02 PM — 8 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Little River, California