Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve 2.jpg
Mx. Granger · CC0

Vail Peak–Chamise Trail, 4 sights is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness near Alamo, CA. The route reaches Vail Peak. It climbs 1,877 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi390 – 1,772 ft · steepest grade: 36%5.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cheese Loop Trail 37.83905, -122.03654
Nearest town Alamo, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Vail Peak–Chamise Trail, 4 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 1,877 ft · 2 hr 30 min

Elevation 390–1,770 ft

Out & Back · Las Trampas Regional Wilderness

Trailhead: Cheese Loop Trail · 37.83905, -122.03654

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:15 PM

  1. Start on Cheese Loop Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Ringtail Cat Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miSharp left onto Madrone Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  7. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Corduroy Hills Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.6 miPass Vail Peak.
  10. 50 ftTurn left onto Las Trampas Ridge & Calaveras Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right onto Chamise Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.1 miReach Vail Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left onto Las Trampas Ridge & Calaveras Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right onto Corduroy Hills Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  16. 250 ftSharp left onto Madrone Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Ringtail Cat Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left onto Cheese Loop Trail, heading SE.
  21. 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Cheese Loop Trail Trailhead