Rock Creek Loop
16.1 mi · ▲ 2,538 ft · 6 hr 38 min
Rock Creek Loop is a 16.1-mile out-and-back near Balderson Station, CA. It climbs 2,538 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rock Creek Loop
16.1 mi · ▲ 2,538 ft · 6 hr 38 min
Elevation 2,788–3,745 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 38.93469, -120.72003
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:50 AM · sunset 7:05 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear left onto Access Road, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Trail 1, heading S.
- 3.4 miSharp right onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Mace Mill Loop;Rock Creek Loop, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SW.
- 1.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Mace Mill Loop;Rock Creek Loop, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Rock Creek Loop, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Mace Mill Loop, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Rock Creek Loop, heading SE.
- 3.7 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Access Road, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 1.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.1 mi in (~176 min). Leave by 3:48 PM for the 7:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
- 2.1 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 3.5 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 3.7 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 4.6 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 6.5 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 7.6 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 8.5 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
- 9 mi · out & back · via Rock Creek Loop
More from this trailhead
- Trail 1 13 mi · ▲ 2,107 ft
- Mace Mill Loop 16.1 mi · ▲ 2,463 ft
- Trail 1 12.8 mi · ▲ 2,052 ft
- Trail 1 4.9 mi · ▲ 612 ft
- Access Road 4.9 mi · ▲ 612 ft
- Access Road 4.4 mi · ▲ 639 ft
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Hikes near Balderson Station, California