Balderson Trail & Mace Mill Loop

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,100 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Balderson Trail & Mace Mill Loop is a 9.5-mile out-and-back near Buckeye, CA. It climbs 1,100 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,851 – 3,402 ft9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.91060, -120.77355
Nearest town Buckeye, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Balderson Trail & Mace Mill Loop

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,100 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Elevation 2,850–3,403 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.91060, -120.77355

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Little Silver Trail, heading E.
  3. 1 miContinue straight onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SE.
  4. 1.2 miSharp right onto Mace Mill Loop;Rock Creek Loop, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miSharp right onto Mace Mill Loop, heading E.
  6. 2.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.9 miBear right, heading NE.
  8. 1.5 miTurn right onto Mace Tie Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Balderson Trail, heading S.
  10. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Little Silver Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  12. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 8:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:57 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead