AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sugarloaf Open Space

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Franco Ridge Loop Trail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 955 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Franco Ridge Loop Trail, 4 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Sugarloaf Open Space near Alamo, CA. The route reaches Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It climbs 955 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi269 – 669 ft · steepest grade: 19%6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Foothills Trail 37.87935, -122.00827
Nearest town Alamo, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Franco Ridge Loop Trail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 955 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Elevation 268–670 ft

Out & Back · Sugarloaf Open Space

Trailhead: Foothills Trail · 37.87935, -122.00827

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 100°F / low 68° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Horses allowed on the whole route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.5 miBear right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  5. 1.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Center Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.5 miReach Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left onto Center Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  12. 1.4 miTurn right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  15. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/sugarloaf-hill-benchmark-out-back-10-km-4eb1

Trail surface

66% dirt20% paved14% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 100°F68°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity30%
Hourly temperature
100°65°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°66°
Wed 90°57°
Thu 97°56°
Fri 103°61°
Sat 102°59°
Sun 101°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 7:32 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Horses allowed on the whole route

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Foothills Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Alamo, California