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

Martis Valley Trail is a 12.3-mile out-and-back in Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area near Ponderosa Fairway Estates, CA. It climbs 1,228 ft. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,814 – 6,336 ft12.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.28283, -120.13165
Nearest town Ponderosa Fairway Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Martis Valley Trail

12.3 mi · ▲ 1,228 ft · 4 hr 43 min

Elevation 5,813–6,337 ft

Out & Back · Martis Creek Lake Recreation Area

Trailhead: 39.28283, -120.13165

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 375 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 450 ftTurn right onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading NE.
  3. 1.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
  4. 0.9 miSharp right onto Tompkins Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1.6 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  8. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Matt's Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 1.5 miTurn right onto Sawmill Road, heading S.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right onto Martis Valley Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Tompkins Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.6 miSharp left, heading W.
  14. 0.9 miSharp right onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading E.
  15. 1.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  16. 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

47% dirt10% paved43% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.8 mi in (~149 min). Leave by 4:12 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 375 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead