Colorado Hill–Barney Riley Trail, 5 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,274 ft · 7 hr 16 min
Colorado Hill–Barney Riley Trail, 5 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back near Markleeville, CA. The route reaches Colorado Hill at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 4,274 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Colorado Hill–Barney Riley Trail, 5 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,274 ft · 7 hr 16 min
Elevation 5,494–7,900 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Barney Riley Trail · 38.68964, -119.76455
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:46 AM · sunset 7:01 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Barney Riley Trail, heading NW.
- 2.4 miSharp right onto Connector Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Morningstar Spur B, heading SE.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Loope Canyon Road, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Colorado Hill Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Colorado Spur Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Colorado Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Colorado Hill Road, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Loope Canyon Road, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Morningstar Spur B, heading NE.
- 2.1 miSharp left onto Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Connector Road, heading W.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Barney Riley Trail, heading SW.
- 2.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~182 min). Leave by 3:39 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Barney Riley Trail Trailhead
- Indian Creek Reservoir & Barney Riley Trail 11.9 mi · ▲ 1,574 ft
- Hot Tub–Hot Spring, 4 sights 15.3 mi · ▲ 3,310 ft
- Barney Riley Trail–Connector Road, 5 sights 14 mi · ▲ 3,730 ft
- Curtz Lake & Barney Riley Trail 10.2 mi · ▲ 1,242 ft
- Barney Riley Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,497 ft
- Mogul Peak–Barney Riley Trail, 5 sights 15.5 mi · ▲ 3,733 ft
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