AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Fork Trail

15.6 mi · ▲ 3,863 ft · 7 hr 8 min

South Fork Trail is a 15.6-mile out-and-back near McCulloh, CA. It climbs 3,863 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi3,366 – 5,456 ft · steepest grade: 41%15.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.95751, -120.48742
Nearest town McCulloh, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South Fork Trail

15.6 mi · ▲ 3,863 ft · 7 hr 8 min

Elevation 3,365–5,456 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.95751, -120.48742

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.5 miSharp right onto Ellicott Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  4. 1.5 miSharp right onto South Fork Trail, heading SE.
  5. 3.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.8 miSharp left onto South Fork, heading NE.
  8. 1.3 miContinue straight onto South Creek Road, heading NW.
  9. 250 ftReach South Fork Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 250 ftContinue straight onto South Fork, heading N.
  11. 1.3 miSharp right, heading E.
  12. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miBear left onto South Fork Trail, heading NW.
  14. 3.1 miSharp left, heading NW.
  15. 1.5 miSharp right onto Ellicott Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  17. 0.5 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/south-fork-trail-out-back-25-km

Weather

Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 8:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~168 min). Leave by 5:04 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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