Esmeralda Trail

Dogs Leashed

Starting at the Esmeralda Golf Course, hike up past some rock outcrops and bear left on the trail. There are many criss-crossing trails in this area, and this route is popular with mountain bikers. Continue around the hill and be ready for a short steep section around mile 0.5 with a couple trails branching off to the left and right. The one to the left rejoins, but the one to the right loops back to the bottom.

Continue through the pine forest around a big switchback to a small knoll with some nice views around 1.0 miles in. Drop down off the knoll and bear left. From here you're going to enter some switchbacks. Keep an eye out for mountain bikers coming down, they like to go fast and even though foot traffic has the right-of-way, they might not see you until it's too late! As you climb up the switchbacks, you'll cross several other trails, but you can see the top. Keep moving towards the towers and you'll make it!

Be careful when coming back down. Not all trails lead back to Esmeralda Golf Course, but there are a few options. I have wound up a couple miles away from the trailhead by not paying attention before!