Sunset hikes near Los Ranchitos, ca

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Gold Hill Fire Road–Quercus III, 4 sights 2.3 mi away

   Be there by 6:50 PM

   1. Be there6:50 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Dark7:36 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:36 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

2. Quercus I & Quercus IV 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:56 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:56 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car8:22 PM
   5. Dark7:36 PM

   Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.9 mi to the viewpoint · 240 ft climb · 111 min of walking

3. Quercus I–Quercus III, 3 sights 2.7 mi away

   Leave by 5:42 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:42 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car8:14 PM
   5. Dark7:36 PM

   Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.9 mi to the viewpoint · 740 ft climb · 117 min of walking

4. Queenstone Fire Road 2.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:11 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car7:42 PM
   5. Dark7:37 PM

   Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 770 ft climb · 56 min of walking

5. Loma Alta–680 Trail, 7 sights 3.2 mi away

   Leave by 4:57 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:57 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car8:40 PM
   5. Dark7:37 PM

   Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1370 ft climb · 187 min of walking

6. Colier Spring–Phoenix Lake, 13 sights 3.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:48 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:48 PM
   2. Sunset7:11 PM
   3. Head back7:26 PM
   4. At your car7:27 PM
   5. Dark7:37 PM

   Back at your car by 7:27 PM — 10 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 5 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

7. McNears Fire Trail & Quercus IV via Ridge Fire Trail 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:11 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car8:06 PM
   5. Dark7:36 PM

   Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.3 mi to the viewpoint · 240 ft climb · 80 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

8. Quercus III 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:43 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:43 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car7:40 PM
   5. Dark7:36 PM

   Back at your car by 7:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.3 mi to the viewpoint · 22 min of walking

9. Scettrini Fire Road & Wood Oaks Trail 1.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:08 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:08 PM
   2. Sunset7:10 PM
   3. Head back7:25 PM
   4. At your car7:43 PM
   5. Dark7:36 PM

   Back at your car by 7:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 780 ft climb · 60 min of walking

10. JCC & Scettrini Fire Road 1.4 mi away

    Leave by 6:17 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:17 PM
    2. Sunset7:10 PM
    3. Head back7:25 PM
    4. At your car7:46 PM
    5. Dark7:36 PM

    Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.8 mi to the viewpoint · 460 ft climb · 54 min of walking

11. Scettrini Fire Road 1.2 mi away

    Leave by 6:14 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:14 PM
    2. Sunset7:10 PM
    3. Head back7:25 PM
    4. At your car7:50 PM
    5. Dark7:36 PM

    Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.9 mi to the viewpoint · 470 ft climb · 61 min of walking

12. Phoenix Lake–Worn Spring Road Loop, 4 sights 3.1 mi away

    Leave by 6:26 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
    2. Sunset7:10 PM
    3. Head back7:25 PM
    4. At your car7:41 PM
    5. Dark7:37 PM

    Back at your car by 7:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 360 ft climb · 39 min of walking