Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Ridge Top Trail, 3 sights
6 mi · ▲ 1,006 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Ridge Top Trail, 3 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. It climbs 1,006 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Franco Ridge Loop Trail–Ridge Top Trail, 3 sights
6 mi · ▲ 1,006 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 268–670 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: 37.88769, -122.01444
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftReach Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 1.5 miTurn right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Willow Spring Pond–Bramhall Pond, 7 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 940 ft
- Flat Top Trail–Hanna Grove Trail, 3 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 1,033 ft
- Costanoan Trail–Flat Top Trail, 3 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 1,093 ft
- Franco Ridge Loop Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 410 ft
- Franco Ridge Ridge Trail & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 474 ft
- Twin Ponds–TwinPonds, 5 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 458 ft
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