Mace Mill Loop & Unnecessary Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 858 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Mace Mill Loop & Unnecessary Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back near Balderson Station, CA. It climbs 858 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,832 – 3,363 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnecessary Trail 38.91341, -120.73963
Nearest town Balderson Station, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mace Mill Loop & Unnecessary Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 858 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 2,830–3,364 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Unnecessary Trail · 38.91341, -120.73963

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:07 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start on Unnecessary Trail, heading SW.
  2. 1 miBear left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading SW.
  3. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miBear left onto Mace Mill Loop;Rock Creek Loop, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miBear right onto Mace Mill Loop, heading W.
  7. 2 miContinue straight onto Unnecessary Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.9 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:07 AMSunset 8:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Unnecessary Trail Trailhead