Spiral Knob–East West Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 5-mile out-and-back in Ecological Study Area near Orinda Village, CA. The route passes Convict Viewpoint and East West Viewpoint before reaching Spiral Knob at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 960 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,204 – 1,749 ft · steepest grade: 25%5.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Skyline Trail 37.87984, -122.22156
Nearest town Orinda Village, CA
Directions
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Spiral Knob–East West Viewpoint, 6 sights
5 mi · ▲ 960 ft · 2 hr 9 min
Elevation 1,204–1,750 ft
Out & Back · Ecological Study Area
Trailhead: Skyline Trail · 37.87984, -122.22156
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
Transit-accessible: Redwood Valley Railway stop 158 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Skyline Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto De La Veaga Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Skyline Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miPass Convict Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Convict Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Upper Jordan Fire Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right onto East West Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftPass East West Viewpoint.
- 150 ftReach Spiral Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Upper Jordan Fire Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Convict Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Skyline Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left onto De La Veaga Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Skyline Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 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
33% dirt27% gravel40% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:16 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:56 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:16 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:45 PM.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Redwood Valley Railway stop 158 m from the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Skyline Trail Trailhead
- Convict Viewpoint–Convict Trail, 4 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,414 ft
- De La Veaga Trail–Lower Huckleberry Loop Trail, 4 sights 10.9 mi · ▲ 2,430 ft
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Hikes near Orinda Village, California