Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail Photos
You might also consider
More like Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail
Recommended Reviews - Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
A gorgeous and mildly challenging hike in Winters, California. my dad and i hiked the full loop and it was a beautiful hike
This was a great hike. People were friendly on the trails. Trail was clearly marked. We started with the steeper part first and about halfway through you can look out on berryessa and see the marina below. For next time I would bring more water and hiking poles because there were some spots that I could have benefitted from them.
This is a great hike bc it offers beginner to more advanced trails. I took my kids (7 and 9) and we made it pretty far in but there's lots more for us to see and hike on return trips. They are super excited to come back. It gets really hot in the summer so we went early and brought lots of water.
A must hike trail in Winters, CA just maybe not in the hot summer Trails are well maintenance n marked! Flowers are bloomed around this time so go out and explore this gorgeous loop ! We always start backward for more of a steeper climb and for some extra calories burn continued on with Annie's Trail before heading down ! We hike this trail at least il couple times a year!
We went to Stebbins Cold Canyon Natural Reserve way up in Winters, CA on Sat 4/14/18. It's a 1.5hr drive from San Lorenzo, but on the way back 2hrs. There are 2 parking lots: Main parking lot which has 1 porta potty, the other parking lot is a little but up the road, they call Upper Parking Lot. Look at the graffiti art by the culverts, take your selfies, then take the Left culvert, both get to the creek, but if you are on the Right you still have to move to the Left because Trail starts on the Left side! The recommended route to me is: start at Blue Ridge Trail (Strenuous), Annie's Trail/Tuleyome Loop (strenuous), then down Homestead Trail (moderate) = 8miles. You can skip Annie's loop and just do Blue Ridge to Homestead for 5 mile loop. I didn't follow that and went up Homestead Trail and it wasn't too hard, there are lots of Stairs though. We did a short detour to see the abandoned homestead site - not much there, took a few pics and went back to the Homestead/Blue Ridge Trail. If you're short, the steps are way too high. I didn't like them at all. Then we did Tuleyome/Annie's Trail - did the loop. It's pretty tough. After the 1.25 mile marker you'll see Annie's Rock for nice stop to take pictures. The way to finish Annie's Trail loop is to go downhill, and it's all downhill for the longest time. Friend was too tired to continue going uphill on Blue Ridge Trail, so we returned on Homestead Trail. If you do both loops suppose to be 8 miles, I hope to come back in the Winter months Nov-Feb when it's dry, and no rain in the forecast. No Dogs allowed.
Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - was a nice work out, and very scenic, esp once you reached the top which over looked Lake Berryessa. I actually did the trail backwards, going up to the most scenic area first, which is about 1.5 miles up - pretty steep, but once up there, sit down, relax and enjoy. Started back up again....again going backwards....some pretty steep climbs, then finally about half way started declining. Over all the hiking was pretty strenuous, couple of the peaks, we're pretty rocky, and edgy. I started the hike around 8 am and finished around 10:30 am - temps were around 77 degrees and people were still heading up, thank god I started early. Enjoy the pictures !
If you're looking for a nice hike, or a good training spot (for my fellow terrain/Obstacle Course Racers). Then Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail is the place for you. Located in Winters California (a little past woodland), Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail is basically several different trails that at various points connect together. And that differ in level of difficulty and distance (Homestead Trail alone: 4 mi round trip, Blue Ridge Trail meets Homestead Trail to make a loop: 5 mi round trip, Annie's Trail: 2.75 mi). When combing two or more trails, your possible 5 mile round trip hike (or run) will turn into almost 7 or 8; so be mindful of that. I must have driven past the main area everyone talks about, but did see the resort, but kept driving. I ended up coming up to a smaller gravel parking area where I saw about 10 cars so I decided to pull in there to start my trail training session. Where I entered you could do either do the shorter Annie's trail or Homestead Trail, which would end up leading you to Blue Ridge trail. As I made my way on the beginning of my run I had to traverse through a rock bed full of huge rocks; bolders basically, but that's also because I chose to divert from the main trail going out. I ended up getting back on the trail now long after though and made my way to two huge tunnels which was kinda cool, my friend told me to expect them as she'd gone hiking here with some friends about two weeks earlier. When you see them it's like which one do you chose? Door #1 or door #2...I just chose #1, ran about 50 meters through the darkness and into the light at the end and continued on with my run. Slowly at first you make your way through the trail and gradually go up the hillside...at first. There was the occasional batch of stairs built into the trail and hillside, and then you come to a fork in the road where you can go left and continue on Annie's trail I believe. Or you can go right and make your way up Homestead trail and up the steeper climb of the mountainside. I chose Homestead trail and the more difficult climb. Before the major climb you weave in and out of narrow trails with multiple twists and turns, while having to duck under so some low level branches and even a large tree that had come down over the path. And after all of that THEN you begin the steep climb of endless steps....and I mean endless. I am very familiar with various hiking/outdoor terrains for my terrain training, and running various terrain races throughout the state in several cities to include Sacramento, Monterey, Temecula, Patterson, Pala, Plesanton, and Tahoe. And at various distance to include almost 15miles. And this little course with the steep stair climb, was a good cardio and endurance tester. My advice would be definitely bring plenty of water even though it's not a really long group of trails. More so because of the possible depending on the time of year, and time of day. And because the course does become a little more intense depending on what trail(s) you choose. I ended up bring my 70oz. Camelback with me, and added electrolyte tablets to it to replace the salt I'd losing from sweating while running. Also bring some energy/protein bars to regain calories to maintain your energy levels. Also bring sunscreen as many have mentioned there is very little shade on these trails, and you want to avoid sunburn and possible heat exhaustion or worse. People get heat stroke out here all the time according to the signs and have to be rescued. OVERALL: Great group of trails, nice scenery at time. Very sunny and out in the open so sweat sunscreen, and bring a sufficient amount of water for your activity level. And for the amount of time that you plan on being out on the trails!
View at the end is beautiful but the hike in is long and not very scenic. If it's warm out, be sure to bring a bunch of water. From the parking lot, it's approx 2.5 miles to the view at the end. PARKING: arrive early because the parking is very limited and this hike is pretty popular.
Awesome hike. Fun, pretty challenging, and super rewarding. PARKING: There is a lot and if that's full, another lot up the road. BATHROOM: Port-a-potty located at the first lot. TRAILS: Clearly marked. AESTHETIC VALUE: Sky high. The views of Lake Berryessa are stunning. As others have mentioned, the trails start off via drainage pipe. That's a pretty cool spot for photos. DOGS: Only allowed on some trails. WATER: Stock up, especially in the summer. You're exposed for a while on the peak. SUNSCREEN: See previous entry. SHOES: Make sure you've got hiking shoes with good grip. We did the Blue Ridge Trail to the peak and then took the Homestead Trail down. About 5 miles. It was a bit of a tough climb at some spots but fun as hell. You can take the Blue Ridge Trail up and back down or do the same with the Homestead Trail. I recommend the loop though for the best experience with the most changes of scenery.
Be prepared to lose signal on your way here. We lost our friends because their GPS led them to another area, and we couldn't contact them! If you plan on going with a group of people, trail behind each other!! Long story short, we found them by using a phone booth nearby, and luckily they turned back to where there was still signal. Parking lot for this is really easy to miss. If you drive a bit more, there is another parking lot next to the road. You can also park there. LOVE how there were arrows to guide you along the way in the beginning. It can be a bit confusing without a clear pathway, so it is helpful to have a guide. This is a REAAALL hike! 10 minutes in, it gets very steep, very rocky and lizards were all over the place! We were already tired, but we did not want to give up. The weather was nice anyway-- sunny, but nice breeze of wind. It's surprising to actually hear the gust of wind, it sounds like a running river! We climbed for about an hour and a half. It was sooo worth it!!! The view was beautiful. It was nice going up as you see the mountains and trees, but seeing a body of water after all the hike is phenomenal. It took us about 30 mins to get down. There are some shortcuts you can take, but be very careful because they are really steep. It cuts down a lot on the time though. Overall: Would go again. One of the best hikes I have ever experienced! TIP: Take a picture of the map they have in the beginning so you have something to go back to halfway up. They stop putting the arrows at one point!
My favorite hike thus far! So many beautiful and interesting sights to take in. Definitely start the hike early! At the top of the hill, there is nearly no shade. We went on a perfect overcast spring day and didn't suffer from the heat, but if our hike took place during summer or the middle of the day , I would have been one unhappy hiker ! I would rate this hike as moderate to easy . It's about 5 miles round trip, give or take a few steps. There are definitely parts of the trail where you are climbing in challenging elevation, but nothing crazy, and because it's a loop , once you get to the top of the highest point , it's all down hill back to the little parking lot. I loved being so close to the running creek besides the trail or sometimes the trail was the creek ! Make sure you have some water resistant hiking shoes because your bound to get a little wet at the bottom of the loop and walking thru the cool tunnels . Besides the cool running water beds , I enjoyed navigating the rustic steps and boulders on the trail. There's enough variations on the trial to keep it interesting and fun for the four hours plus it took us to do the entire loop. Only bummer is that there are multiple signs saying no dogs allowed. That being said , we saw at least a dozen hikers with their loyal four legged companions! I think the reason for no dogs is that there are so many narrow parts of the trial that are rugged due to rock formations . So perhaps for safety reasons , dogs are formally not allowed. Thankfully the no dogs allowed policy does not seem to be enforced, and everyone we encountered were cool and dog lovers themselves . So if you have an active, agile, friendly dog, I think this hike is just fine for fido. I do know that there is trial close by this particular loop , where they do allow dogs, if you're a stickler for rules. Fairly easy to find the trail head. There is a small parking lot with one porta-potty available. We also saw a lot of cars parked along the side of the road. Bring water , snacks, sunscreen, and have a blast enjoying the great outdoors!
If you're looking for a great workout, this hike is for you! There are signs to direct you to the trailheads, and trails are marked along the way so you know how far you've hiked. Parking is free, and there is a main car lot and an upper car lot. Both lead you to the trail head (signs are marked). You first meet a sign that says welcome to Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve with maps of the area. Then you walk through a water tunnel (which is completely dry during the summer), meet some rocks, then more signs for the trail head. There's a fork in the road where you can choose to start with Homestead Trail or Blue Ridge Trail, both of which have access to Annie's Trail. Breakdown of the distances: Homestead Trail alone: 4 mi round trip Blue Ridge Trail meets Homestead Trail to make a loop: 5 mi round trip Annie's Trail: 2.75 mi You can access Annie's Trail by starting with either Homestead or Blue Ridge, but I'd recommend doing Homestead/Annie in one day (6.75 mi) or Blue Ridge/Homestead: 5 mi just because you have to account for climbing uphill (in Annie's Trail and Blue Ridge. If you decide to do all 3, it'll be about 7.75 mi. Whichever trail you take, you're definitely going to get a great workout and a great view of Lake Berryessa and the mountains at the top! If you're taking Annie's Trail, I recommend stopping by Annie's Rock (very short walk from the path and it's labeled so you'll have no problem finding it). You can take a break on the rocks and soak in the view. My bf and I brought sandwiches so we had our food and picture break. I recommend lots of water (I brought 32 oz water bottle and a 21 oz hydroflask) and my boyfriend brought 48 oz (lol we didn't wanna dehydrate). For Blue Ridge/Homestead, I didn't drink all my water, but for Annie's/Homestead, we actually drank all our water. It was pretty hot so I'd also recommend starting early. The uphill climb for Annie's burned a little more for me than the Blue Ridge Trail's uphill. On Annie's Trail, at the end, there is a fork in the road where you see a gate with a "No Trespassing" sign in the distance or a trail to your left. The sign is leaned over a bit, so one guy ahead of us actually thought he hit a dead end and turned back, but no, Annie's is a loop! Take the trail to your left.. unless you wanna see what's behind the fence like I did. (It's just more land with a sign that says UC Davis trail ends here. No Trespassing.. Private property.) What I don't recommend: doing legs at the gym the day before this hike. Okay, now that you've read this review and mentally prepared yourself, go have a great workout!!
I wanted to die, no lie. I've done this 5k trail numerous times but not since the fire that occurred and they blocked off the two gates (entry). It doesn't get easier, but it's the most challenging hikes I've been to because I hate steep inclines. To start you begin at the trail that leads you through the tunnel of running water. To see a quicker view, once you get out of the tunnel go left up the rocks, then proceed right and then make another right downwards and cross over the stream to begin your Frodo journey. Be prepared--straight steep inclines to the top and barely any shade. Go early in the am, like before 7. Since the fire, less trees means less shade. About 1.5 miles up, you'll see Lake Berryessa-- just soak up the wind, the view, eat, and chill. You can keep going up and down i believe 2-3 more peaks, then down the 300+ steps of stairs (I've started that way before, and wanted to quit, so imagine no shade up, NO thanks) and it should loop you back to the parking lot. I, however, did not do that today. I decided to keep it to 3 miles. To the left, there was ALOT of burnt trees, so I don't know how it is now. Tips--Sunblock. I didn't wear any besides what was already in my makeup foundation. You'll need it. And ladies don't be that girl with a dolled up face. Your makeup will melt. H2O. Hydroflask. My favorite thing in the world when hiking is a hydroflask. Iced water throughout the journey. Go to the bathroom prior. There is one in the parking lot, but seriously disgusting. Stop by a gas station. Eat something prior. I forget to. So bring protein bars and snacks.
12 years ago
Just found Annie's Trail & man is it a butt kicker! It's a 2.5 mile loop that's connected to the Ridge Loop just past the stair climb up (Homestead Trail). It's a very steep climb compared to the loop but the views are so much better! Once you get to the top take a snack break on Annie's Rock & enjoy the best view of Lake Berryessa. To get there: once you finish the hike up the staircase you'll come to a fork in the road. Most people head right & take the Blue Ridge Trail but head straight to the Tulyome Trail (It's marked with a metal sign). After you hike up you'll find the Annie's Trail sign & the beginning of the loop. After finishing the loop & heading down you have the option of going back down the stairs you came from or take the Blue Ridge Trail to finish the loop. If you complete both loops like we did it's a great workout & 7.5 mile hike! read more
11 years ago
What a butt kicker! Those darn switchbacks! They are steep, good for thundering thighs! It's a love/hate relationship. If you are looking for a workout this is a must do. Start on the side where the porter potty sits (it's stinks btw). I would rate this as a moderate to strenuous hike. I love that it's so close to Sacramento. It's about a 45 mins drive; super easy to find. As you approach the trailhead you will see a makeshift parking lot to the right. Good luck on finding a spot, although I have been here a total of 4 times (in the past two months) and I have never had a problem finding a spot either in the dirt lot of or on either sides of the road. My favorite trail is the Blue Ridge to Annie's Rock and taking the loop back down. The Blue Ridge Loop is about 5 miles roundtrip; Blue Ridge to Annie's Rock and back is approximately 7.5 miles. Once you are at the peak, the views are pretty awesome, a bit sad since we are in the midst of a drought. Furbabies are allowed but only for the first three miles of the trail (starting at the far gate). Things I recommend you bring/do: Lots of cold water, especially important when it's HOT! Sunscreen Bug Spray Snacks Ice Cold Sports drink Be careful if you are taking pictures Good hiking shoes Fun/Motivating hiking buds Put on deordrant Be careful of poison oak, there are tons out there Have fun Take breaks as needed Bring flip flops or shoes to change into (you're welcome) Post your pictures to Instagram and hashtag appropriately :) I can't think of anything else, get out there and have an awesome workout! Get in shape. read more
9 years ago
By far one of my favorite hikes. The drive there was not bad at all. Don't have to go through so many curved roads. It was easy to find. First parking lot you see is where you want to park. The tunnels were exciting to go through (there was water in it this time.) we did blue ridge trail loop- 5miles. (Strenuous) and it was difficult and fun- you will have to climb rocks and go through lots of stairs but it was well worth it and worth the exercise. The view was spectacular. Especially since we're out of drought. The trees and high water made it so gorgeous. Definitely go early morning. It gets very hot and bring lots of water. Would I do it again? YES!! read more
9 years ago
Visited: April 9th, 2017 Holy Cow! I used to run a hiking/adventure group for about 2.5 years. (Young & Active on Meetup). I sorta fell off the hiking train for a couple years when I moved to Midtown because I was busy galavanting to all the places I'd never been before. I posted this in my FB hiking group I started a tad earlier this year. (Nor Cal Hikers: Mostly Young & Sorta Active) I must have done this hike when I was in much better shape because I listed it as Beginner to Intermediate. IT ISN"T! haha. It's more intermediate to advanced. It was absolutely beautiful. The hike included beautiful flowers, some enclosed areas with a lot of greenery and trees, and some space where you're fully hit by the sunshine and weather. We couldn't have asked for better weather. I wouldn't recommend doing this hike on a day that's hot. The sun will get you in a bad way. We ended up nicknaming this hike "SNEAKY PEAK" because every time you think you've made it to the top, there is another drop and another incline to get to the final peak. It was so worth it though. Definitely had a feeling of accomplishment by the end of the hike. read more
12 years ago
This hike is strenuous in many parts! Not like you can barely hike up the trail, but it can be a hard one for you newbies! The views of Lake Berryessa are amazing if you know where to go. If you go to the entrance, you'll see two trails, the Homestead Trail and the Pleasants Ridge Trail. The Homestead Trail runs along the valley (go to this one if you want to loop the hike). The Pleasants Ridge trail is a one way hike and back. I have never hiked through that trail, so I don't know if you can see any great views from there. Anyway, if you want to see the views of the lake first, go to the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The entrance to that is a little past the little parking area at the entrance. You'll do the hard trail up the mountain, but oh man! You'll see the most amazing views of Lake Berryessa! But, if you want to view them at the end, go through the Homestead Trail, and it will turn into the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The entire loop took my friends and I a couple of hours, but it was so worth it! We got to climb over rocks and boulders on the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The Homestead Trail mainly has the steps. Going up wasn't the problem for me. Going down was death to my knees because of the steps and downward slopes. I have knee problems and after finishing the hike, I was so happy to sit back in the car. But, I really loved the hike and would love to come back again soon! Come early! Parking may be a little hard to find. You get absolutely ZERO reception in the area. Good for you technology addicts. And, of course, definitely bring water and snacks. You'll get thirsty and hungry! Now, go on and explore! Stop once in a while and enjoy the scenery. You won't regret it. :) read more
11 years ago
10 years ago
Haven't been since the fires. There is a new trailhead below the main parking lot, which lead you to new tunnels. Pretty cool, but they've been covered in graffiti. There is also better signage for those first time hikers. The fires definitely changed the landscape...not as shaded but still a beautiful hike! Such beautiful weather! Can't wait to hike it again! I went with a group of 20...many first timers at various fitness skill levels. This is definitely a strenuous hike with 1500ft of elevation gain (rolling hills). Once you get to the ridges, you'll have to climb over rocks so watch your footing. Some people in our group had difficulty, but they persevered and completed the 5 mile loop. With all the stops, it took our group 3-5 hours. Again, we had people who hiked for the first time and do not work out. But they were pretty proud of themselves since they passed some people who changed their minds and barely did a mile or two. Also, you can start on either side of the loop. One has a bunch of switchbacks, and the other has a bunch of stairs. read more
Went on the Blue Ridge Trail loop today and it was challenging at times but the view from the top was well worth it. You can see what the fire did to the flora but it also allows for more of a view. The vegetation is growing back so it wasn't as brown and dry as I expected it to be. I definitely recommend this hike! read more
8 years ago
It's a pretty tough hike to get to the top but so worth it. All those stairs! I have to admit I went for the hike but mainly just to take this picture read more
8 years ago
I've been hiking this trail since I was a little girl. It's kind of crazy to see how popular it has become over the years, although not surprising. Despite all the people on the weekends it seems everyone is fairly respectful. The vegetation has been altered some time the massive Wragg fire that came through this area a couple years ago. However, some seeds need fire to germinate and it seems the trail was exploding with wild flowers this season, more than I've ever experienced here. Despite the shade trees being drastically reduced it is still as beautiful as ever. I recommend going early in the morning to beat the heat! In the dead of summer I don't recommend starting any later that 7am, especially if you're a baby when it comes to dry summer heat. I know I am! Obviously, respect the trail. Pack out what you pack in and enjoy your hike! read more
8 years ago
Great 5 mile loop with plenty of signs on the trail. Limited shade And no water stations on the trail so plan accordingly. Definitely a good hike with rewarding views from the top read more
13 years ago
The short version: A secluded area for hiking close to Sactown where there are difficult trails and no cell service to speak of. My new fall back hiking location. The basics: In my search for a new local or semi local hiking spot I stumbled on this secluded spot and decided to check it out. It fit my needs which were within an hour from home and gains in elevation with some challenge involved. There are two parking areas and street side overflow for people coming to enjoy the nature. It should be noted that after about 11am the parking is overflowing and you may have to search a bit. I also heard rumors about people breaking into cars here so don't leave valuables visible. That being said I found the trail head easy enough and once inside there was plenty of signage telling you where to go and what to expect. Dogs are allowed on some parts of the trails and in the parts they aren't I still ran across quite a few. Personally I wouldn't take my dogs here because it is drowning in ticks and I don't want the headache. The first mile of the trail is pretty simple and straight forward and it leads to the second section of the trail which is where you are going to feel the burn. For another 2-3 miles you will climb stairs and boulders and just basically go up and up. There are some really nice views when you reach the top and you will go over about 4 other peaks on the trail if you take the entire loop. The last section on the trail down is pretty much switchback after switchback and nothing too special. This is definitely more of a workout hike than a relax in quiet nature hike since there are a lot of college students hiking out here and they are just loud. Also there are a lot of rocky areas where you should watch your step. It would be a bad day if you were to get hurt way out in the middle of nowhere. What works: Easy access parking and clearly marked trails What to improve: Not much of anything I can think of. read more
13 years ago
one of my favorite hikes in the sacramento area, about a 45 minute drive for downtown sacramento. the drive is easy and scenic through the town of winters. once you park in the rough rock parking lot or on the road (preferred if you don't have 4 wheel drive), you can start the trail from 1 of 2 directions. the trail starting from the left is a more steep climb to the top of the mountain and the trail starting from the right is less steep going up and more covered going up but uncovered coming down and much steeper coming down. so left if you want to have a steep ascent with a gradual descent and the opposite if you want the right trail head. both are fine but if you have bad knees or don't want to do down a steep hill, I prefer the left trail. The trail is less than 50% shaded so I recommend wearing a hat or some kind of head cover. the hike is never too crowded. lots of uc davis students go on this hike. bring at least 2 liters of water on a warm day because you will need it. also bring some food/snacks for eating at the top of the mountain. you will get a nice breeze and enjoy the beautiful views of lake berryessa while there is still water. it takes about 2 hours if going a constant pace but if you take breaks and eat lunch obviously it will take longer. recommend leaving for this trail by 9am to avoid the crowds and also the unrelenting sun. this is the only trail that is within a hour of sacramento that offers great lake views. on the way back, stop at Berryessa Brewing Company for some good beer or wine and mexican taco food truck. read more
12 years ago
About this hike... - Go in the morning hours if you don't want to die (my friends and I went in the heat of the day... rookie mistake... and we were so dehydrated) -The parking is free and limited. If you have never been here before you may pass the little turnout so be aware when you are driving up. -The hike starts off not to shabby but then you will start to feel the burn in your calves. -The trail goes from dirt, rocky, steep steps, dirt, and finally climbing up some big ol rocks. -Make sure to look around your surroundings because it's quite beautiful :) -Be careful with the poison ivy along the way and we didn't encounter any rattlesnakes but apparently they appear on this trail. -Not a dog friendly hike or kid friendly. -A good challenge with a beautiful view as a reward at the end. -Overall about 2 and a half hours for my friends and I and we aren't crazy hikers just moderately active people haha. I definitely recommend checking out this trail!!!! Bring plenty of water for during the trail and after!!! read more
13 years ago
9 years ago
Great hike during a dry winter! It was tough but well worth it for the views & serenity. The trail markings were perfect. At the top, the trail continues along the ridgeline so you get to enjoy the view for a good while. Lightly trafficked on 12/28. My favorite hike thus far! read more
14 years ago
12 years ago
Great hike for the moderately athletic. A bit hard to find at first, but after asking a couple for directions, we finally came upon it. LOTS of poison oak, but easy to avoid if you stay on the trail. Beautiful views and the weather was perfect when we went in the beginning of May. Better than any trails I have hiked in Fairfield or Vacaville. read more
13 years ago
Awesome Hike!!! Did it twice, the whole ten miles, twice. My friends loved it! I love this place too! Cannot wait to go again! You can get so many different views of Lake Berryessa. I have ridden my bike around lake berryessa, boated & wakeboarded out in berryessa, and now hiked lake berryessa and the views you get are effin awesome! It's the best. My fave place to hike yet. =) read more
12 years ago
13 years ago
Pleasantly surprised. i wasn't expecting this trail to be so beautiful and shady with some peak of sun once you hit the hilltop. Overall I really like this hike and would recommend this trail to friends and families. Its not too hard with a slight inclined and stairs that are slightly slanted. My favorite part of the hike would probably be hoping over the big rocks. Fun time!!! read more
10 years ago
12 years ago
This loop, also known as the Blue Ridge trail, is listed as "moderate" on most trail sites, however, I would definitely call this a "difficult" hike. It is difficult, especially of you're doing the entire 5 mile loop. I started on the Blue Ridge Loop trail head. This access point will lead you to a mostly uphill climb for the first 3.75 miles. The climb is steep, so being plenty of water, and pack a lunch! Once you get to the highest peaks of this hike, the trail becomes more difficult to follow, as you have to maneuver through several large rocks. You'll almost question as to why this is a hike and not a rock climb, but it is not impossible! Slow and steady is the key. read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
I only wish the maps would have been a bit better. They didn't give a great description as to where you are/where to go but other that that it was great. I wish I had brought more water and a snack so I didn't feel like I was gonna die lol but the view from the top was worth it. And I guess we didn't have to turn around and come back the way we went up, there's a loop back down but I didn't know that so we backtracked. Either way it was a super pretty hike and it definitely gets your blood pumping at certain spots. read more
11 years ago
Much as I hated this hike, I highly recommend you try it at least once. Unless you're afraid of heights like I am. Then reconsider. We did the Blue Ridge loop & let me tell ya, I said things that frightened children & made grown men blush. I'm an avid day hiker, but moderate to strenuous isn't my strong suit. My legs were burning, the narrow parts fed my fear of heights & it was hot. Ok like 75°, I think. But when I wasn't focused on the negatives, Wow. Almost worth it. You should really take reviewers' recommendations about starting in the morning & packing plenty of water. If you aren't afraid of heights and in fairly good shape you should be fine. Trail was popular with college aged kids (some prancing like mtn goats, others lookin' like they needed oxygen) to families & a few cool, old guys that seemed happy to still be alive. This isn't for the faint of heart but it sure is breathtaking. Do it. read more
10 years ago
It was my first time today and well just letting you guys know if you afraid of snake you better not go.... while hiking the trail we ran into 3 rattlesnakes and 1 garden snake so watch out guys but it was very long and took us 3 hours but the good part we meet new people read more
Ok, let me start by saying this is a great hike, it's strenuous and there's an amazing view at the top! But there are signs / warnings and let me tell you if you're going on a hot day don't skimp on the water. I packed and carried two liters for the two of us but that was long gone before we were half way. I had a gut feeling to carry more and damn I wish I would've. Bring plenty of water!..and hydrate before! We saw another hiker who was out of water, carrying two empty bottles with a ways to still, too. They also mention something about little shade and sure enough when you hit a certain spot, there are no more trees and I was glad to have grabbed a hat last minute - and don't forget sunscreen! We hiked the big loop (5 miles?) and stopped for a bite which all took us about 4 hours? And on our way back where we thought we turned but later realized we somehow missed it - we saw the red flags marking the one trail through the creek, easy to miss on your way! read more
10 years ago
One of my favorite hikes that I've ever taken! Definitely re-hiking this trail as much as I can. The trail is challenging at points (you may have to use both hands and feet at some points), but overall the trail is pretty manageable. It didn't leave me sore at all, whereas less challenging trails (e.g. Mission Peak in the Bay) have left me reasonably sore the next day. The hike offers a great view of the lake as well as quite a feeling of "I did this cool thing!!" as you are hiking along the peaks. Bring water and wear your sun protection because there is no shade on a majority of the trail. read more
9 years ago
I was in Davis this week and recommended this hike by a couple friends. They warned me that there was limited shade since the fire of 2015 so thankfully I was prepared. I parked in the free lot right next to the bridge and there were tons of signs to guide you from the parking lot to the trailhead. In the beginning I thought there would just be signs throughout because I saw no trail map in the parking lot! But from the parking lot there are multiple signs that take you to a tunnel and once you pass through the tunnel you should reach a trail map, take a picture of it! I opted for going up the blue ridge trail first and then looping around to the homestead trail. Let me just say whew! That was a good workout on the legs! Fairly strenuous and cannot recommend bringing extra water enough! Also recommend liberal use of sunscreen! The view of lake Berryessa at the top is very worth it! There is a little more shade on the homestead side so coming down that side later in the day when it was hotter was a blessing. If you didn't stop to eat lunch at the top then you can definitely find a nice shady spot in the old homestead the trail is named after. There a signs to the old homestead where the blue ridge and homestead trails meet. It's a very idyllic spot with a bubbling little creek and someone set up a makeshift swing, it's really just an extra wide, red canvas rope that was able to hold up my weight so !! I would definitely come back to try the reportedly harder Annie's trail loop! read more
15 years ago
11 years ago
More info about Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail
Hwy 128
Winters, CA 95694
Directions
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail
So is the trail actually open? We went there last month for an Easter hike, and there was a fence/gate at where we figured the trailhead was that said the trail was closed. Are folks just ignoring that and going up anyway? Thanks.
Trail is open
Review Highlights - Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
7 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
7 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
13 years ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
