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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start on Cheese Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Ringtail Cat Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Madrone Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Corduroy Hills Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miPass Vail Peak.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Las Trampas Ridge & Calaveras Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Chamise Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miReach Vail Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Las Trampas Ridge & Calaveras Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Corduroy Hills Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Madrone Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ringtail Cat Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Cheese Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 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
Weather
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.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Cheese Loop Trail Trailhead
- Point of No Return & Ringtail Cat Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 965 ft
- Dewies/Birthday–Dewies Loop, 3 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 1,078 ft
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