AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shell Ridge Open Space

Sulphur Creek Pond–Bob Pond, 10 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 1,601 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Sulphur Creek Pond–Bob Pond, 10 sights is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Bancroft, CA. The route passes Deer Lake, Sulphur Creek Pond, Bob Pond and 2 more. It climbs 1,601 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi259 – 732 ft · steepest grade: 17%7.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.90623, -122.02038
Nearest town Bancroft, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sulphur Creek Pond–Bob Pond, 10 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 1,601 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Elevation 258–732 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: 37.90623, -122.02038

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 101°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Lower Buck Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miPass Deer Lake.
  4. 0.3 miSharp right onto Costanoan Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miPass Sulphur Creek Pond.
  6. 100 ftTurn left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading E.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.4 miBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading SE.
  10. 500 ftTurn left onto Flat Top Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Costanoan Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.2 miPass Bob Pond.
  13. 100 ftBear right onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading SE.
  14. 450 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miPass TwinPonds.
  16. 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
  17. 100 ftSharp right onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  18. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.7 miBear right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.6 miBear right onto Franco Ridge Loop Trail, heading SW.
  21. 500 ftReach Sulphur Creek Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.1 miBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.6 miBear left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  25. 250 ftSharp left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading E.
  26. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading N.
  27. 450 ftBear left onto Costanoan Trail, heading N.
  28. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Flat Top Trail, heading W.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Costanoan Trail, heading NW.
  30. 500 ftBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading W.
  31. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading W.
  32. 0.4 miBear left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn right onto Costanoan Trail, heading NW.
  34. 0.4 miSharp left onto Lower Buck Trail, heading NW.
  35. 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  36. 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/sulphur-creek-pond-bob-pond-out-back-13-lakes-12-km

Trail surface

88% dirt12% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 101°F63°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
105°60°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 90°64°
Wed 89°56°
Thu 98°57°
Fri 104°62°
Sat 104°60°
Sun 102°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~116 min). Leave by 6:00 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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