Thermal Canyon Road

8.2 mi · ▲ 775 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Thermal Canyon Road is an 8.2-mile out-and-back near Cactus City, CA. It climbs 775 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,627 – 1,906 ft · steepest grade: 17%8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.67735, -115.96486
Nearest town Cactus City, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thermal Canyon Road

8.2 mi · ▲ 775 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Elevation 1,628–1,907 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 33.67735, -115.96486

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:59 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  10. 2.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right onto Thermal Canyon Road, heading NW.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miReach Thermal Canyon Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  16. 2.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  20. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 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

80% dirt20% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 5:59 AMSunset 7:43 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead