AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Liverock Forest at Alum Rock Park.jpg
Benzozo001 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alum Rock Park

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 5 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 878 ft · 1 hr 56 min

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 5 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Alum Rock Park near East Foothills, CA. The route reaches South Rim Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 878 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi482 – 1,191 ft · steepest grade: 18%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail 37.39478, -121.81009
Nearest town East Foothills, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South Rim Viewpoint–North Woodland Trail, 5 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 878 ft · 1 hr 56 min

Elevation 484–1,191 ft

Out & Back · Alum Rock Park

Trailhead: Penitencia Creek Trail · 37.39478, -121.81009

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 250 ftTurn left onto North Woodland Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Inspiration Point Trail, heading NW.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miBear right onto South Rim Trail, heading NE.
  6. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Switchback Trail, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto South Rim Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.4 miReach South Rim Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left onto Switchback Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Rim Trail, heading SW.
  11. 1.1 miBear left onto Woodland Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Inspiration Point Trail, heading W.
  13. 300 ftTurn right onto North Woodland Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 150 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/south-rim-viewpoint-out-back-7-km-a288

Trail surface

11% dirt2% gravel87% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Penitencia Creek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near East Foothills, California