AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Rowton–Benches Viewpoint, 6 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 996 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Rowton–Benches Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Benches Viewpoint and Rowton. It climbs 996 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,893 – 7,602 ft · steepest grade: 21%5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail 39.31295, -120.38170
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rowton–Benches Viewpoint, 6 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 996 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 6,895–7,601 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail · 39.31295, -120.38170

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start on Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
  3. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  4. 350 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading S.
  5. 1.2 miTurn left onto Jack's Jump, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftPass Benches Viewpoint.
  8. 150 ftSharp left onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.5 miPass Rowton.
  10. 50 ftTurn left onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  13. 400 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading NE.
  17. 0.7 miBear right onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Razorback, heading N.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Bogus Basin, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miBear right onto Nose Dive, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  24. 1.1 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 300 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SW.
  27. 150 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  28. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/rowton-benches-viewpoint-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F55°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°61°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°54°
Fri 85°55°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 86°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 7:32 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM — 1 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

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