AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback

4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. It climbs 411 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,756 – 7,034 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.32146, -120.37984
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback

4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 6,755–7,033 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.32146, -120.37984

Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 48°F / low 39° · precip 60% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miSharp right onto Summit Connection, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  5. 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading S.
  6. 1.4 miBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftReach Switchback, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SW.
  11. 1.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 300 ftBear right onto Summit Connection, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/rowton-peak-trail-out-back

Trail surface

95% dirt5% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 48°F39°
Feels like41°Precip60%Wind8 mphUV2Humidity88%
Rained 0.1″ yesterday
Hourly temperatureRain chance
50°35° 12 AM: 60% rain1 AM: 56% rain2 AM: 49% rain3 AM: 47% rain4 AM: 44% rain5 AM: 44% rain6 AM: 55% rain7 AM: 58% rain8 AM: 49% rain9 AM: 44% rain10 AM: 34% rain11 AM: 27% rain12 PM: 23% rain1 PM: 13% rain2 PM: 9% rain3 PM: 7% rain4 PM: 6% rain5 PM: 4% rain6 PM: 3% rain7 PM: 3% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 54°37°
Sun 56°37°
Mon 69°35°
Tue 70°42°
Wed 64°46° 24%
Thu 66°47° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Soda Springs, California