AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mace Mill Road–Rock Creek Loop, 4 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 2,409 ft · 6 hr 26 min

Mace Mill Road–Rock Creek Loop, 4 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back near Quintette, CA. It climbs 2,409 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,789 – 4,200 ft · steepest grade: 19%16.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.91472, -120.69669
Nearest town Quintette, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mace Mill Road–Rock Creek Loop, 4 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 2,409 ft · 6 hr 26 min

Elevation 2,788–4,200 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.91472, -120.69669

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftTurn right onto Trail 1, heading NW.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto Trail 1-3, heading SE.
  4. 250 ftTurn right onto Trail 1, heading S.
  5. 2 miSharp right, heading W.
  6. 4.1 miSharp right onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SW.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mace Mill Loop, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right onto Mace Tie Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Balderson Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miBear right onto Mace Mill Road, heading N.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Balderson Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftReach Trail 1, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mace Mill Road, heading N.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Balderson Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mace Tie Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Rock Creek Loop, heading N.
  18. 4 miBear left, heading SE.
  19. 0.7 miSharp left onto Trail 1, heading W.
  20. 1.9 miTurn left onto Trail 1-3, heading N.
  21. 250 ftTurn left onto Trail 1, heading N.
  22. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  23. 50 ftArrive 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-out-back-bd19

Trail surface

72% dirt28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 8:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.7 mi in (~208 min). Leave by 4:24 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 12:20 AM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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