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

Matt's Trail & Sawmill Road via Martis Valley Trail

6.3 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 2 hr 25 min

Matt's Trail & Sawmill Road via Martis Valley Trail is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Waddle Ranch Preserve near Polaris, CA. It climbs 628 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,814 – 6,322 ft6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.29254, -120.11667
Nearest town Polaris, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Matt's Trail & Sawmill Road via Martis Valley Trail

6.3 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 2 hr 25 min

Elevation 5,813–6,321 ft

Out & Back · Waddle Ranch Preserve

Trailhead: 39.29254, -120.11667

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  3. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miBear left onto Martis Valley Trail, heading N.
  7. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Matt's Trail, heading N.
  10. 1 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading E.
  11. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 0.9 miTurn left onto Martis Valley Trail, heading S.
  19. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  22. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  23. 100 ftSharp right, heading S.
  24. 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/matts-trail-sawmill-road-out-back-10-km

Trail surface

77% dirt11% paved12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 5:44 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Polaris, California