Red Road
8.5 mi · ▲ 1,733 ft · 3 hr 42 min
Red Road is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Cowell, CA. It climbs 1,733 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Red Road
8.5 mi · ▲ 1,733 ft · 3 hr 42 min
Elevation 447–1,273 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: California Riding and Hiking Trail · 37.93495, -121.97298
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 99°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:13 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 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 S.
- 450 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.
- 1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 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 1.4 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 7:11 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from California Riding and Hiking Trail Trailhead
- Crystal Ranch Trail & Manzanita Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 612 ft
- Lime Ridge Trail–Manzanita Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 726 ft
- Red Road 5.7 mi · ▲ 1,116 ft
- Black Point Trail & Red Road 9.7 mi · ▲ 2,016 ft
- Red Road 12.7 mi · ▲ 2,581 ft
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Hikes near Cowell, California