AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Wilder Ranch State Park cliffs.jpg
Grey3k · CC BY 3.0
Wilder Ranch State Park

Wilder Ranch State Park Beach–Fern Grotto Beach, 4 beaches

3.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Wilder Ranch State Park Beach–Fern Grotto Beach, 4 beaches is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Wilder Ranch State Park near Gordola, CA. The route passes Fern Grotto Beach, Sand Plant Beach, Fern Grotto Beach and Wilder Ranch State Park Beach before reaching Sand Plant Beach at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi33 – 75 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 36.96100, -122.08706
Nearest town Gordola, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Wilder Ranch State Park Beach–Fern Grotto Beach, 4 beaches

3.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Elevation 34–74 ft

Out & Back · Wilder Ranch State Park

Trailhead: 36.96100, -122.08706

Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 67°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 200 ftSharp right, heading E.
  7. 0.7 miPass Fern Grotto Beach.
  8. 0.5 miPass Sand Plant Beach.
  9. 50 ftPass Fern Grotto Beach.
  10. 50 ftPass Wilder Ranch State Park Beach.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  12. 200 ftTurn left onto Old Cove Landing Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miPass Sand Plant Beach.
  14. 50 ftReach Wilder Ranch State Park Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 1.2 miSharp left, heading N.
  17. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  20. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/wilder-ranch-state-park-beach-wilder-ranch-state-park-beach-out-back-4-beaches-4-km

Trail surface

87% dirt6% paved7% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 67°F55°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity93%
Hourly temperature
70°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Tue 62°55°
Wed 72°55°
Thu 76°59°
Fri 84°62°
Sat 83°64°
Sun 74°61°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Gordola, California