Northstar Service Road 706–Northstar Service Road 900, 5 sights is a 12.8-mile out-and-back near Carnelian Bay, CA. It climbs 2,138 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi6,296 – 7,635 ft · steepest grade: 28%13.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Knick Knack 39.25299, -120.11081
Nearest town Carnelian Bay, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Northstar Service Road 706–Northstar Service Road 900, 5 sights
12.8 mi · ▲ 2,138 ft · 5 hr 20 min
Elevation 6,297–7,635 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Knick Knack · 39.25299, -120.11081
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Sawmill, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto White Fir, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Tryumph, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left onto The Woods, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tryumph, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Sticks & Stones, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Dogbone, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Speed Control, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Gypsy, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear right onto Coaster, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Boondocks, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Tell No Tales, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading SE.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading S.
- 1 miBear right onto Northstar Service Road 706, heading NE.
- 0.4 miReach Sawmill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading SE.
- 2.1 miSharp right onto Tell No Tales, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Boondocks, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Coaster, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear left onto Gypsy, heading S.
- 0.8 miBear left onto Speed Control, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Dogbone, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sticks & Stones, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left onto Tryumph, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto The Woods, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Tryumph, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto White Fir, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Sawmill, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 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
98% dirt2% gravel
Weather
ClearTemperature 83°F50°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue
84°60°
Wed
83°55°
Thu
88°54°
Fri
89°55°
Sat
88°56°
Sun
87°55°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Knick Knack Trailhead
- 73D & Hemlock Loop 1.9 mi · ▲ 228 ft
- Sawmill Flat 2.4 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Sawmill Flat 2.5 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Sawmill Flat 2.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Sawmill Flat 2.6 mi · ▲ 135 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Carnelian Bay, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Carnelian Bay, California