Melampsorella caryophyllacearum (California, USA).jpg
sgene · CC0

Sand Ridge Lake–Castle Valley North Road, 3 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route reaches Sand Ridge Lake at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,551 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,274 – 8,065 ft10.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Castle Valley North Road 39.34100, -120.34760
Nearest town Norden, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Ridge Lake–Castle Valley North Road, 3 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 1,551 ft · 4 hr 11 min

Elevation 7,273–8,064 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Castle Valley North Road · 39.34100, -120.34760

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Castle Valley North Road, heading NW.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left onto Hole in the Ground, heading W.
  3. 1.2 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 2.8 miContinue straight onto Sand Ridge Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miReach Sand Ridge Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hole in the Ground, heading E.
  7. 4 miTurn right onto Castle Valley North Road, heading N.
  8. 0.9 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Castle Valley North Road Trailhead