South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 5 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Alum Rock Park near East Foothills, CA. The route reaches South Rim Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 961 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi397 – 1,191 ft · steepest grade: 17%5.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail 37.39346, -121.81701
Nearest town East Foothills, CA
Directions
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South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 5 sights
5.2 mi · ▲ 961 ft · 2 hr 13 min
Elevation 396–1,191 ft
Out & Back · Alum Rock Park
Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail · 37.39346, -121.81701
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Penitencia Creek Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left onto North Woodland Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Inspiration Point Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto South Rim Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Switchback Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto South Rim Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miReach South Rim Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Switchback Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto South Rim Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Woodland Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Inspiration Point Trail, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right onto North Woodland Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Penitencia Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 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
9% dirt2% gravel89% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Penitencia Creek Trail Trailhead
- Eagle Rock & Eagle Rock Viewpoint via Penitencia Creek Trail 1.3 mi · ▲ 362 ft
- Penitencia Creek Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 289 ft
- Penitencia Creek Trail 3 mi · ▲ 402 ft
- Penitencia Creek Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 374 ft
- North Woodland Trail–Switchback Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 861 ft
- Lariat Trail–North Woodland Trail, 4 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 913 ft
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