AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shell Ridge Open Space

Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Franco Ridge Ridge Trail, 4 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 688 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Franco Ridge Ridge Trail, 4 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. It climbs 688 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi269 – 696 ft · steepest grade: 20%4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ridge Top Trail 37.87080, -122.03455
Nearest town Walnut Heights, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Franco Ridge Ridge Trail, 4 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 688 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 268–695 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: Ridge Top Trail · 37.87080, -122.03455

Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Horses allowed on the whole route

  1. Start on Ridge Top Trail, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miSharp right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading E.
  4. 1.5 miTurn right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading NE.
  5. 400 ftSharp right onto Franco Ridge Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.4 miReach Ridge Top Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.4 miSharp left onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading N.
  8. 450 ftTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading W.
  9. 1.5 miSharp left, heading S.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading S.
  11. 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/sugarloaf-hill-out-back-7-km

Trail surface

55% dirt27% paved18% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 101°F63°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity33%
Hourly temperature
105°60°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°63°
Wed 89°55°
Thu 98°56°
Fri 103°61°
Sat 103°59°
Sun 102°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 6:52 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Horses allowed on the whole route

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Ridge Top Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Walnut Heights, California