AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Rowton–Serene Lakes, 4 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 726 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Rowton–Serene Lakes, 4 sights is a 2.5-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes before reaching Rowton at the turnaround, 1.1 miles in. It climbs 726 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,877 – 7,523 ft · steepest grade: 24%3.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Reindeer 39.29181, -120.38492
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rowton–Serene Lakes, 4 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 726 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Elevation 6,876–7,523 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: Reindeer · 39.29181, -120.38492

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

  1. Start on Reindeer, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miPass Serene Lakes.
  3. 100 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading SE.
  4. 350 ftSharp right onto Tiny Tim, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bogus Basin, heading N.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  9. 150 ftTurn right onto Bogus Basin, heading N.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Bogus Basin, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 miPass Rowton.
  14. 150 ftTurn left onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lolas Lookout, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Razorback, heading SE.
  19. 100 ftTurn right onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Razorback, heading SE.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftSharp left onto Bogus Basin, heading NW.
  23. 350 ftContinue straight onto Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right onto Jack's Jump, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miSharp left onto Switchback, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading N.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading N.
  28. 100 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading N.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading N.
  30. 300 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading N.
  31. 0.1 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/rowton-serene-lakes-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F55°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°61°
Wed 82°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 86°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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