East Perimeter Trail–North Fork, 3 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 1,717 ft · 6 hr

East Perimeter Trail–North Fork, 3 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back near Donner Pines Tract, CA. It climbs 1,717 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,893 – 6,792 ft · steepest grade: 17%17.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Carpenter Valley Trail 39.38615, -120.25618
Nearest town Donner Pines Tract, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

East Perimeter Trail–North Fork, 3 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 1,717 ft · 6 hr

Elevation 5,893–6,791 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Carpenter Valley Trail · 39.38615, -120.25618

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Carpenter Valley Trail, heading NE.
  2. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 450 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  7. 3.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  9. 1.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  12. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  14. 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Lion's Leap, heading W.
  25. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear right onto East Perimeter Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.2 miContinue straight onto North Fork, heading S.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Alder Creek Trail, heading S.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Cinammon Twist, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Alder Creek Trail, heading S.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto North Fork, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Wild West, heading SW.
  34. 100 ftSharp right onto Flying Squirrel, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftSharp left onto Rough Rider, heading SW.
  36. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Flying Squirrel, heading S.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rough Rider, heading S.
  38. 50 ftTurn right onto Flying Squirrel, heading S.
  39. 50 ftTurn left onto Rough Rider, heading S.
  40. 250 ftBear right onto Whoop it Up, heading S.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto Little Dipper, heading S.
  42. 50 ftReach East Perimeter Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoop it Up, heading S.
  44. 50 ftBear left onto Rough Rider, heading S.
  45. 250 ftTurn right onto Flying Squirrel, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftTurn left onto Rough Rider, heading SW.
  47. 50 ftContinue straight onto Flying Squirrel, heading SW.
  48. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rough Rider, heading SW.
  49. 0.1 miSharp right onto Flying Squirrel, heading SE.
  50. 50 ftSharp left onto Wild West, heading SW.
  51. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Fork, heading SW.
  52. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  53. 50 ftTurn left onto Alder Creek Trail, heading S.
  54. 50 ftBear right onto Cinammon Twist, heading S.
  55. 50 ftTurn left onto Alder Creek Trail, heading SW.
  56. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Fork, heading SW.
  57. 50 ftContinue straight onto Pony Express, heading SW.
  58. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  59. 450 ftContinue straight onto East Perimeter Trail, heading SW.
  60. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  61. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  62. 250 ftContinue straight onto Lion's Leap, heading N.
  63. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  64. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  65. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  66. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  67. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  68. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  69. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  70. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  71. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  72. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  73. 200 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  74. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  75. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  76. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  77. 0.9 miBear right, heading E.
  78. 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
  79. 1.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  80. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  81. 3.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  82. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  83. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  84. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  85. 50 ftBear left onto Carpenter Valley Trail, heading W.
  86. 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 surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Carpenter Valley Trail Trailhead