Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Sulfur Spring, 11 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. The route passes Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark, TwinPonds and Twin Ponds before reaching Sulfur Spring at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,399 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi269 – 673 ft · steepest grade: 19%9.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Ridge Top Trail 37.87730, -122.04245
Nearest town Walnut Heights, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Sulfur Spring, 11 sights
9.4 mi · ▲ 1,399 ft · 3 hr 50 min
Elevation 268–671 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: Ridge Top Trail · 37.87730, -122.04245
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 92°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Transit-accessible: Danville Boulevard & Iron Horse Court stop 544 m from the trailhead
- Start on Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Center Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miPass TwinPonds.
- 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Fairy Lantern Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Stage Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Sulfur Spring.
- 100 ftReach Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Fairy Lantern Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Center Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 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
66% dirt13% paved21% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 92°F63°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity32%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:15 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Wed
90°56°
Thu
99°58°
Fri
104°63°
Sat
103°60°
Sun
98°58°
Mon
94°56°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Danville Boulevard & Iron Horse Court stop 544 m from the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Ridge Top Trail Trailhead
- Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Ridge Top Trail, 3 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 301 ft
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