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Training Hill Trail

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Special Note:

Trailhead parking for Training Hill Trail, is located on private land along the ridgeline, adjacent to Cerro Vista road.

The access trail leading from this parking area to the trailhead are OFF LIMITS to motorized off-road vehicles (OHV's.) Large warning signs, gates, posts and concrete barriers are in place to discourage prohibited users ONLY. Walkers, equestrians and mountain bikers are welcome to use the trails. The Placer County Sheriff's Office is aware of the restrictions and will respond to reports of illegal use.

Recreational use of this trail, as with all others listed on this website, is at the user's own risk. If you encounter anyone who claims you are trespassing or suggests you should not use the trail, or if you encounter any OHV users, please report the incident at once to the MVTA Trails Coordinator.

Features:

Suggested trail loop shown is about 3 miles. The hill itself is a single track trail that can be somewhat narrow and/or brushy in places, depending on how much use the trail has had in the season to date. Clockwise direction is preferred by equestrians, using the hill as a conditioning climb. Counter-clockwise direction is preferred by Mountain Bikers for the fast downhill.

Map Notes:

Click on map shown to view the full-size version. The trailhead is by the green star; the parking locations are shown as circle-P icons to the south and southwest of the trailhead. Access to Boole Road is from the Applegate exit from I-80, top left.

Availability:

During the rainy season (usually mid-November thru mid-April) to avoid causing erosion, this and adjoining trails should be used by hikers only.

Difficulty:

The trail loop covers about 3 miles in all, the Training Hill itself is a litttle over 1/2 mile long. The footing is even and mostly free of rocks.

Cautions:

Cougar habitatThis trail traverses Cougar Habitat. Cougar sightings are rare, but use good sense: Do not walk or ride this trail alone. Keep small children and pets close at hand.

Poison Oak grows along much of this trail and hangs out into the trail in places.

Drinking Water must be carried with you. Creek and river water are not safe for human consumption, no matter how clean it looks. Drink it only in an emergency and consult a doctor afterwards.

Directions to trailhead:

The trailhead is located on a saddleback that is only about 200 ft from the side of Boole Road, but there is no parking at the trailhead itself. The closest parking is about 1/4 mile away on Cerro Vista Road.

  • From I-80, take the Applegate exit and follow the overpass road East to where it T's into Applegate Road.
  • Go left onto Applegate Road; the road passes through a one-lane tunnel under the railroad.
  • Take an immediate right after the tunnel onto Boole Road. Boole Road is narrow and has poor shoulders, so drive with care. There is a dirt access road to the trailhead about 1.5 miles along this road, on your left. There is no signage, so don't be surprised if you miss it. Parking at the trailhead is not available: The short dirt road to the trailhead, about 200 ft. away, is generally in very poor condition. Use one of the parking alternatives described next.

Recommended Parking: There are two good parking locations nearby. Continue on Boole Road past the trailhead access road to where the pavement forks. Cerro Vista Road to your left; Boole Road continues to your right.

  • Cerro Vista Road: Go left at the fork; less than a quarter mile up the hill is a flat dirt area to your left. There is room for several cars or a couple of horse trailers in the flat area. From here, you can reach the trailhead by taking the graded road that follows the ridgeline.
  • Boole Road: Go right at the fork; about 1/2 mile down, you will cross a cattle guard. About 100 yards farther is a large triangular flat area between where the paved roadway sweeps to the right and a dirt wagon road continues straight. This area is private property, but the ranch owners are friendly. Horseback riders should be aware that it is no longer possible to skirt the cattle guard as you proceed between this parking area and the trailhead.

Trail Description:

Trailhead: The saddleback area is on the rim of the canyon. There is no trail signage, so here is what to look for: From the Cerro Vista Road parking area, follow the dirt roadway north, up and over the hill and down to the saddleback area, about 1/4 mile. From the saddleback, there are trails in five directions:

  1. South: This is the trail you arrived on, coming from the Cerro Vista Road parking area, 1/4 mile away.
  2. East: The well-graded road that heads downhill is the Upper Clementine Trail
  3. Northeast: This single-track trail, sometimes partly obscured by brush, is the Assassin's Trail.
  4. West: A short dirt road connects to Boole Road about 200 ft away. There is no parking available on this roadway or on Boole Road itself.
  5. North: A wide dirt road follows the ridgeline steeply uphill. This trail is mostly used by dirt bikers. It ends about a mile away at a locked gate.

Trail Loop Course:

Equestrians will want to follow this loop in a clockwise direction, using the Training Hill for uphill conditioning. Mountain Bikers will prefer to follow a counter-clockwise route, using the Training Hill as a fast, technical decent. Although the Training Hill is not heavily used, both types of users need to be aware that they may encounter opposing traffic on the hill.

Clockwise, this suggested trail loop decends from the saddleback area, and follows the Upper Clementine Trail, a graded fire road, down into the canyon. Part way, there is a natural year-round spring on the uphill side of the trail, denoted on the map by the circle-w symbol. The water is suitable for pets and stock animals only. About 2 miles down, turn left to begin the Training Hill climbout to the ridgeline.

If you miss your turn you will promptly reach a wide junction area. Return uptrail for about a dozen yards and look for a single-track trail heading uphill on your left.

After 1/2 mile, as you approach the ridgeline, the trail joins the Cerro Vista Ridgeline Trail. Follow the trail to your right to return to the Cerro Vista parking area. Or, for a longer loop, take the trail to the left to follow the Ridgeline Trail clockwise to reach the Boole Road parking area.

Counter-clockwise, bikers will begin the loop as an easy upgrade from the Cerro Vista parking area along Cerro Vista Road. Look for an ungraded wagon road about 1/4 mile up on the left. Follow it in for about 200 yards and look for the Training Hill trail bearing off downhill to the left. At the bottom of the 1/2 mile decent, you will drop onto the Upper Clementine Trail, a graded fire road. Go left to begin the gradual climbout to the trailhead and to return to whichever parking area you are using.


MVTA tries to assure the accuracy of the trails information presented,
but can make no claims to such. Please let us know if any entries are incorrect.

Email your comments or questions to our Trails Coordinator.