Prometheus–Camper Park, 7 sights is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Wilder Ranch State Park near Rincon, CA. The route reaches Prometheus at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,523 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Prometheus–Camper Park, 7 sights
11.9 mi · ▲ 1,523 ft · 4 hr 44 min
Elevation 320–1,122 ft
Out & Back · Wilder Ranch State Park
Trailhead: 36.98993, -122.06956
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 75°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Empire Grade & Heller Drive stop 193 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto UCSC Connector/Cave Gulch, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Wally World, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Red Mailbox, heading SE.
- 2.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Mailboxes, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Chinquapin Road, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Red Hill Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Chinquapin Road, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Camper Park, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Red Hill Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Spring Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Across Campus, heading SE.
- 300 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto LMC Path, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Prometheus, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Across Campus, heading NW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Spring Road, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Red Hill Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Camper Park, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Chinquapin Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Red Hill Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Chinquapin Road, heading NW.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Mailboxes, heading NW.
- 1.7 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Mailbox, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Wally World, heading SE.
- 200 ftSharp left onto UCSC Connector/Cave Gulch, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~143 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Empire Grade & Heller Drive stop 193 m from the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- The Triangle & Arboretum Pond 1.6 mi · ▲ 165 ft
- Prairie View Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 329 ft
- Prairie View Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 325 ft
- Long Meadow Trail–UCSC Connector/Cave Gulch, 3 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 426 ft
- Prairie View Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 355 ft
- Prairie View Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 439 ft
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Hikes near Rincon, California