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A moderate loop through the Loch Lomond Recreation Area featuring shoreline, redwoods, and knobcone pines.


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Map Key

4.8

Miles

7.8

KM

Loop

1,123' 342 m

High

582' 177 m

Low

695' 212 m

Up

670' 204 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

33%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · Views

Family Friendly Easy access to the lake makes this a great option for families.

Loch Lomond Recreation Area is open daily from March 1 through Labor Day, and Saturdays and Sundays through the second full weekend of October. The trails are closed from mid-October to March.

Overview

This loop first leads you alongside Loch Lomond with great views of the lake and then enters higher ground with views of the San Lorenzo Valley before returning back to the lake.

Description

The hike starts at the Loch View Picnic Area and closely follows the east bank of Loch Lomond. As you circle around the coves, you'll get great views of the lake and a particularly good look at Clar Innis, a small island in the lake that can only be reached by boat. After the last cove, the trail joins Loch Sloy Trail and continues alongside the lake.

Deer Flat Picnic Area (at 1.7 miles in) is a great spot for a break. After that, the trail leaves the lake and ventures up the hill to reach the Highland Trail. From there, it leads through pine forest along the eastern border of the Loch Lomond Recreation Area. This section of the loop is just a regular forest hike, but you do get great views at roughly 3 miles in of the San Lorenzo Valley and Loch Lomond. Before the trail reaches the paved Loch Lomond Way, stay right toward Glen Corrie Picnic Area on the Nature Trail. Cross the parking lot and take Auchmar Trail back to the Loch View Picnic Area.

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Santa Cruz

Shared By:

Tilman Giese

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 4 votes

#4898

Overall
  3.8 from 4 votes
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4 Star
75%
3 Star
25%
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Recommended Route Rankings

#656

in California

#4,898

Overall
15 Views Last Month
2,786 Since Oct 23, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Loch Lomond from Highland Trail.
Oct 24, 2017 near Lompico, CA
Recreational boating on Loch Lomond.
Oct 24, 2017 near Lompico, CA
Clar Innis - a small island in Loch Lomond.
Oct 24, 2017 near Lompico, CA
Clar Innis from Loch Trail.
Oct 24, 2017 near Lompico, CA

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 8, 2022
Vince Espo
May 2, 2021
Mona McCrae
4.9mi — 2h 03m
Aug 1, 2020
Jean R
Jul 21, 2019
Aakash Jariwala
May 5, 2019
Sergiy Cherepov
great hike, may be not so easy for the small kids. 4.8mi — 2h 00m
Apr 14, 2019
Javier Ruiz
Oct 6, 2018
Seth Klarity
Sep 29, 2018
Tread Lightly
Nice hike, good view of the lake and mountains at the top. Highlights were the view at the top and the part of the trail that follows that lake. ot… 5mi
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