Martis Creek Lake & Thompson Memorial Trail via Martis Valley Trail is a 14-mile out-and-back in Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area near Polaris, CA. The route reaches Martis Creek Lake at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 1,340 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi5,814 – 6,473 ft · steepest grade: 15%14.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.27708, -120.12486
Nearest town Polaris, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Martis Creek Lake & Thompson Memorial Trail via Martis Valley Trail
14 mi · ▲ 1,340 ft · 5 hr 20 min
Elevation 5,813–6,474 ft
Out & Back · Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area
Trailhead: 39.27708, -120.12486
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 304 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading S.
- 2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Tompkins Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Matt's Trail, heading N.
- 400 ftReach Martis Creek Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftBear right, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Tompkins Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading E.
- 2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 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
37% dirt9% paved54% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 87°F55°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
90°55°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue
87°63°
Wed
86°57°
Thu
90°57°
Fri
89°58°
Sat
90°59°
Sun
91°56°
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 304 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Thompson Memorial Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 328 ft
- Lor Axe & Thompson Memorial Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 2,041 ft
- Northstar Service Road 710 & Thompson Memorial Trail 12.1 mi · ▲ 2,360 ft
- Northstar Service Road 706 & Thompson Memorial Trail 12.3 mi · ▲ 2,160 ft
- Northstar Service Road 704–Schaeffer Creek Trail, 3 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 2,611 ft
- Northstar Service Road 705 & Thompson Memorial Trail 14.4 mi · ▲ 2,617 ft
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