AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Thunder Mountain–Forbidden Forest, 4 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,935 ft · 3 hr 14 min

Thunder Mountain–Forbidden Forest, 4 sights is a 6.8-mile out-and-back near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Thunder Mountain at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 1,935 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,845 – 9,403 ft · steepest grade: 24%7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Forbidden Forest 38.68878, -120.07543
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thunder Mountain–Forbidden Forest, 4 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,935 ft · 3 hr 14 min

Elevation 7,846–9,403 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Forbidden Forest · 38.68878, -120.07543

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 78°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Funny Bunny, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Forbidden Forest, heading W.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Funny Bunny, heading SW.
  4. 200 ftBear right onto Sentinels Trail, heading W.
  5. 1.1 miSharp left onto Thunder Mountain Loop, heading SW.
  6. 1.8 miBear right onto Thunder Mountain Spur Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miReach Thunder Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 450 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miBear left onto Thunder Mountain Loop, heading E.
  10. 1.8 miSharp right onto Sentinels Trail, heading NE.
  11. 1.1 miBear left onto Funny Bunny, heading SE.
  12. 200 ftContinue straight onto Forbidden Forest, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Funny Bunny, heading SE.
  14. 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/thunder-mountain-out-back-11-km-294b

Trail surface

68% dirt32% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 78°F48°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV9Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
80°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 78°55°
Wed 79°57°
Thu 82°57°
Fri 83°58°
Sat 83°58°
Sun 83°57°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Forbidden Forest Trailhead

Hikes near Kirkwood, California