AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lion's Leap

14.2 mi · ▲ 1,579 ft · 5 hr 31 min

Lion's Leap is a 14.2-mile out-and-back near Donner Pines Tract, CA. It climbs 1,579 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,893 – 6,795 ft · steepest grade: 16%15.5 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lion's Leap

14.2 mi · ▲ 1,579 ft · 5 hr 31 min

Elevation 5,893–6,794 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Carpenter Valley Trail · 39.38615, -120.25618

Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 52°F / low 41° · precip 48% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:29 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 miSharp left onto East Perimeter Trail, heading W.
  27. 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  28. 500 ftSharp right, heading W.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 300 ftContinue straight onto Lion's Leap, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  33. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  37. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  38. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  39. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  40. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  41. 200 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  42. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  44. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  45. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  46. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  47. 1.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  48. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  49. 3.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  50. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  51. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  52. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  53. 50 ftBear left onto Carpenter Valley Trail, heading NW.
  54. 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-956c

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

RainTemperature 52°F41°
Feels like45°Precip48%Wind12 mphUV4Humidity76%
Rained 0.1″ yesterday
Hourly temperatureRain chance
55°40° 12 AM: 48% rain1 AM: 42% rain2 AM: 40% rain3 AM: 37% rain4 AM: 34% rain5 AM: 38% rain6 AM: 38% rain7 AM: 44% rain8 AM: 42% rain9 AM: 33% rain10 AM: 30% rain11 AM: 19% rain12 PM: 14% rain1 PM: 9% rain2 PM: 6% rain3 PM: 4% rain4 PM: 5% rain5 PM: 3% rain6 PM: 3% rain7 PM: 2% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 59°39°
Sun 63°37°
Mon 74°35°
Tue 73°43°
Wed 67°47° 25%
Thu 70°48° 27%

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

Hikes near Donner Pines Tract, California