Red Road
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,687 ft · 3 hr 27 min
Red Road is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Cowell, CA. It climbs 1,687 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Red Road
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,687 ft · 3 hr 27 min
Elevation 487–1,273 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: 37.92727, -121.97232
Weather Sep 5: Clear, high 78°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:35 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Red Road, heading E.
- 300 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 2 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:35 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Lime Ridge Trail–Manzanita Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 681 ft
- Olofson Ridge Road via Red Road 9.5 mi · ▲ 2,241 ft
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