AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Carpenter Valley Trail

15 mi · ▲ 1,538 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Carpenter Valley Trail is a 15-mile out-and-back near Donner Pines Tract, CA. It climbs 1,538 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,893 – 6,798 ft · steepest grade: 18%16.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: East Perimeter Trail 39.37332, -120.25151
Nearest town Donner Pines Tract, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Carpenter Valley Trail

15 mi · ▲ 1,538 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Elevation 5,893–6,799 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: East Perimeter Trail · 39.37332, -120.25151

Weather Sep 21: Overcast, high 72°F / low 49° · precip 11% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start on East Perimeter Trail, heading N.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Lion's Leap, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  12. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 200 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  16. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  19. 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  21. 1.2 miSharp left, heading E.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 3.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  26. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Carpenter Valley Trail, heading SW.
  28. 200 ftBear right onto Carpenter Valley Road, heading S.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Carpenter Valley Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.7 miReach Carpenter Valley Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  31. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Carpenter Valley Road, heading E.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Carpenter Valley Trail, heading E.
  33. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  34. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  35. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  36. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  37. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  38. 3.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  40. 1.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  41. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  42. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  43. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  44. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  45. 350 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  46. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  47. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  48. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  49. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  50. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  51. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  52. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  53. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  54. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  55. 50 ftTurn left onto Lion's Leap, heading NW.
  56. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  57. 150 ftTurn left onto East Perimeter Trail, heading SW.
  58. 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/lions-leap-out-back-23-km-fb9f

Trail surface

98% dirt1% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 72°F49°
Precip11%Wind11 mphUV6Humidity41%
Hourly temperature
75°45°
Sunrise 6:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:01 PM
Tue 70°46°
Wed 76°49°
Thu 72°46°
Fri 67°41°
Sat 69°39°
Sun 65°37°

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

Other ways to reach this destination

More from East Perimeter Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Donner Pines Tract, California