Martis Creek Lake and Dam summer.jpg
Michael Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Public domain

Martis Valley Trail is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area near Ponderosa Fairway Estates, CA. It climbs 1,593 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,814 – 6,585 ft · steepest grade: 17%14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: connector 39.27686, -120.12779
Nearest town Ponderosa Fairway Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Martis Valley Trail

14.2 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft · 5 hr 32 min

Elevation 5,813–6,583 ft

Out & Back · Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area

Trailhead: connector · 39.27686, -120.12779

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 549 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading S.
  6. 2 miSharp left, heading NW.
  7. 0.9 miSharp right onto Tompkins Trail, heading NE.
  8. 1.6 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Matt's Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 1.5 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading S.
  14. 0.7 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left onto Tompkins Trail, heading W.
  16. 1.6 miSharp left, heading W.
  17. 0.9 miSharp right onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading E.
  18. 2 miTurn right, heading E.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  20. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 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

40% dirt9% paved51% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:49 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.7 mi in (~174 min). Leave by 3:45 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 549 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from connector Trailhead