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

Martis Creek Lake via Martis Valley Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Martis Creek Lake via Martis Valley Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area near Polaris, CA. The route reaches Martis Creek Lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 232 ft of elevation gain. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,814 – 5,899 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.29364, -120.11629
Nearest town Polaris, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Martis Creek Lake via Martis Valley Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Elevation 5,813–5,899 ft

Out & Back · Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area

Trailhead: 39.29364, -120.11629

Weather Aug 4: Partly cloudy, high 89°F / low 45° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  4. 0.3 miBear left onto Martis Valley Trail, heading NE.
  5. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 1.1 miBear left onto Matt's Trail, heading NE.
  8. 450 ftReach Martis Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  10. 1.1 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading S.
  11. 0.7 miTurn left onto Martis Valley Trail, heading S.
  12. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  14. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.2 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/martis-creek-lake-out-back-8-km-72f0

Trail surface

56% dirt22% paved22% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 89°F45°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
90°45°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 89°59°
Wed 89°59°
Thu 92°59°
Fri 93°59°
Sat 92°61°
Sun 91°59°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Polaris, California