Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 5 cliffs is an 8.9-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Donner Pass and Petroglyph Cliff before reaching Tunnel Rock at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 935 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi6,779 – 7,159 ft · steepest grade: 36%9.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Summit Connection 39.31316, -120.38663
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 5 cliffs
8.9 mi · ▲ 935 ft · 3 hr 26 min
Elevation 6,779–7,160 ft
Out & Back · Royal Gorge
Trailhead: Summit Connection · 39.31316, -120.38663
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Summit Connection, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Timberline, heading SE.
- 1.4 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1.9 miPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Tunnel Rock Approach Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Tunnel Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading E.
- 1.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading NW.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Timberline, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading NW.
- 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 surface
35% dirt12% gravel53% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~88 min). Leave by 5:16 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Summit Connection Trailhead
- Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Petroglyph Cliff, 7 sights 14 mi · ▲ 1,966 ft
- Snowshed East Face–Snowshed, 7 cliffs 9 mi · ▲ 981 ft
- Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 5 sights 14 mi · ▲ 2,105 ft
- Mount Lincoln–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 9 sights 15.2 mi · ▲ 2,150 ft
- Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 7 sights 11.8 mi · ▲ 1,434 ft
- Point Mariah–Serene Lakes, 7 sights 8.3 mi · ▲ 1,082 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Soda Springs, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Soda Springs, California