AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Martis Creek Lake and Dam summer.jpg
Michael Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Public domain
Waddle Ranch Preserve

Lake Ella–Katy's Walk, 4 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 749 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Lake Ella–Katy's Walk, 4 sights is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Waddle Ranch Preserve near Polaris, CA. The route reaches Lake Ella. It climbs 749 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,814 – 6,319 ft7.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.28889, -120.11143
Nearest town Polaris, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Ella–Katy's Walk, 4 sights

7.5 mi · ▲ 749 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Elevation 5,813–6,319 ft

Out & Back · Waddle Ranch Preserve

Trailhead: 39.28889, -120.11143

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 716 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Martis Valley Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Sawmill Road, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  6. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  10. 0.4 miPass Lake Ella.
  11. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  12. 450 ftSharp left onto Katy's Walk, heading N.
  13. 450 ftSharp left onto Sawmill Road, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right onto Matt's Trail, heading W.
  16. 2 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading S.
  17. 0.7 miTurn left onto Martis Valley Trail, heading SE.
  18. 1 miArrive 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/lake-ella-martis-creek-lake-out-back-10-km-e617

Trail surface

73% dirt11% paved16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 716 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Polaris, California