Name: South Fork/Tolman Peak Loop
Rating: 3.0

“This combines dirt road and trail going up the back of the peak and finishing down a steeper grade back to the fork.”

— Andrew Soldavini

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

Much of this trail is dirt road but the back half and the section up to the peak are a nice trail. There is a steep climb up the back of the ridge on a narrow trail. A couple of dry creek beds cross the trail, and this trail can be very muddy and wet after a rainy day.

Description

From the trailhead, you'll start on the High Ridge Loop Trail and pass the High Ridge Loop Trail fork to connect onto the Tolman Peak Trail and continue onto the South Fork Trail.

You'll have to go through a few cattle gates, and the day I went there were a lot of cows and calves on the trail. A couple of the calves were spooked, and the mothers did not appreciate this. A couple of times I had to wait for a comfortable route around them.

The trail continues onto the peak with another dirt road up to the gate/border of the regional park. This section of the Tolman Peak Trail is a short out-and-back, so if you take that trail, you'll have to turn back at the park boundary.

The descent on Tolman Peak Trail felt pretty steep, but the trail is wider. At the base, you'll get back onto the High Ridge Loop Trail and continue back to where you started.