California trails · Aptos Creek Fire Rd
Aptos Creek Fire Rd
A 12.0-mile network in California, with 2,425 ft of climbing. Reaches Santa Rosalia Mountain and other summit/viewpoint destinations. Managed by the state.
Elevation profile
The climbing is spread fairly evenly along the route.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Reaches
- Santa Rosalia Mountain (summit)
- Sand Point (summit)
- Sand Point Overlook (viewpoint)
- Santa Rosalia Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- Top of the Incline (viewpoint)
Heads up
Getting there
Aptos Rancho Trl access — parking nearby, restroom. 37.00125, -121.90592 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:10 a.m., the sun rises at 6:37 a.m. and sets at 7:37 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 8:04 p.m. (PDT) — 13 h 00 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 12.0-mile route takes roughly 5 h 39 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 12:16 p.m. — 7 h 22 min before sunset.
Loop options
- Bridge Creek Trail + Loma Prieta Grade + Aptos Creek Fire Rd — 1.2 mi loop, 159 ft gain
- Aptos Creek Fire Rd + Loma Prieta Grade — 1.3 mi loop, 279 ft gain
- Aptos Creek Fire Rd + Bridge Creek Trail + Loma Prieta Grade Trail — 7.2 mi loop, 2,161 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Skyline To The Sea Trail — 21.1 mi