Big Tree Trail–Cayote Hill Road, 4 sights is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in Sam McDonald County Park near La Honda, CA. It climbs 1,557 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi643 – 1,161 ft · steepest grade: 19%7.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Cayote Hill Road 37.28936, -122.26854
Nearest town La Honda, CA
Directions
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Big Tree Trail–Cayote Hill Road, 4 sights
7.3 mi · ▲ 1,557 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Elevation 642–1,162 ft
Out & Back · Sam McDonald County Park
Trailhead: Cayote Hill Road · 37.28936, -122.26854
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 85°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start on Cayote Hill Road, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Ridge Fire Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Towne Fire Road, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left onto East Brook Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Towne Fire Road, heading E.
- 300 ftBear left onto East Brook Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Towne Fire Road, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Brook Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear right onto Towne Fire Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Heritage Grove Trail, heading E.
- 2.2 miSharp left onto Big Tree Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Cayote Hill Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Heritage Grove Trail, heading SE.
- 2.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Towne Fire Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto East Brook Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Towne Fire Road, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Brook Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right onto Towne Fire Road, heading W.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto East Brook Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right onto Towne Fire Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Ridge Fire Road, heading W.
- 500 ftBear left onto Cayote Hill Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
10% dirt90% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 85°F50°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity98%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue
80°50°
Wed
77°52°
Thu
94°55°
Fri
99°61°
Sat
95°58°
Sun
87°51°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~18 min). Leave by 7:38 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM — 2 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Cayote Hill Road Trailhead
- Towne Viewpoint–Cayote Hill Road, 3 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 594 ft
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