Deer Valley Road & Fern Flat Road via Rusk Grade

6.8 mi · ▲ 774 ft · 2 hr 39 min

Deer Valley Road & Fern Flat Road via Rusk Grade is a 6.8-mile out-and-back near Day Valley, CA. It climbs 774 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi538 – 1,145 ft · steepest grade: 23%6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.02953, -121.84184
Nearest town Day Valley, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Deer Valley Road & Fern Flat Road via Rusk Grade

6.8 mi · ▲ 774 ft · 2 hr 39 min

Elevation 538–1,144 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 37.02953, -121.84184

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.5 miBear left onto Haines Ranch Road, heading W.
  3. 150 ftTurn left onto Fern Flat Road, heading S.
  4. 1.2 miBear right onto Rusk Grade, heading W.
  5. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Deer Valley Road, heading SW.
  6. 1 miReach Fern Flat Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 1 miContinue straight onto Rusk Grade, heading NE.
  8. 0.6 miBear left onto Fern Flat Road, heading NE.
  9. 1.2 miTurn right onto Haines Ranch Road, heading E.
  10. 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
  11. 0.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

1% gravel99% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 7:08 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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