AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Balderson Trail–Depthcharge, 4 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 1,762 ft · 3 hr 29 min

Balderson Trail–Depthcharge, 4 sights is a 7.8-mile out-and-back near Balderson Station, CA. It climbs 1,762 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,677 – 3,370 ft · steepest grade: 19%8.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.90493, -120.73506
Nearest town Balderson Station, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Balderson Trail–Depthcharge, 4 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 1,762 ft · 3 hr 29 min

Elevation 2,679–3,369 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.90493, -120.73506

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:07 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.7 miTurn left onto Miner's Pit Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right onto Depthcharge, heading N.
  4. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Trail 1, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto Balderson Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.7 miSharp left onto Tipton Hill Road, heading N.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Balderson Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.7 miTurn right onto Rock Creek Loop, heading S.
  9. 0.7 miSharp left, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miSharp left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mace Mill Road, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mace Mill Loop, heading SE.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mace Mill Road, heading E.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Mace Mill Loop, heading E.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mace Mill Road, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mace Mill Loop, heading S.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mace Mill Road, heading S.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto Martin Trail, heading SE.
  21. 1.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/balderson-trail-depthcharge-out-back-4-sights-13-km-8fe8

Trail surface

75% dirt12% paved13% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 8:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Balderson Station, California