AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Martis Camp Conservation Easement

Northstar Service Road 704–Schaeffer Creek Trail, 3 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 2,611 ft · 6 hr 2 min

Northstar Service Road 704–Schaeffer Creek Trail, 3 sights is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Martis Camp Conservation Easement near Polaris, CA. It climbs 2,611 ft. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,149 – 7,005 ft14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.27708, -120.12486
Nearest town Polaris, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northstar Service Road 704–Schaeffer Creek Trail, 3 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 2,611 ft · 6 hr 2 min

Elevation 6,148–7,005 ft

Out & Back · Martis Camp Conservation Easement

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.6 miBear left onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
  4. 250 ftTurn right onto Perimeter Trail, heading W.
  5. 3.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Schaeffer Creek Trail, heading S.
  8. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 704, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  10. 50 ftReach Thompson Memorial Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 704, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Schaeffer Creek Trail, heading SW.
  13. 1.5 miTurn left onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right onto Perimeter Trail, heading NW.
  15. 3.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 250 ftSharp left onto Thompson Memorial Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.6 miBear right, heading E.
  18. 0.6 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/northstar-service-road-704-schaeffer-creek-trail-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

30% dirt70% 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°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

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

Hikes near Polaris, California