Summary
| Difficulty | 2 Beginner-intermediate |
| Length | xxx miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
7050 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+xxx, -xxx feet |
| Navigation | Road and marked trail |
| Time | Half day ????? |
| Season | December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles | Low |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Bear River Reservoir ????? |
| Start | Junction of Highway 88 and Foster Meadow Road, 0.8 mile east of Peddler Hill Maintenance Station and 11.1 miles west of the Silver Lake dam. Parking is on the north side of the highway in a cut-out that only holds 4 to 6 vehicles. Park carefully to maximize capacity. |
Description
The Trail Junction Via the Road tour is one of two tours that connect the trailhead at Foster Meadow Road with Trail Junction. It is suitable for beginners while the Trail Junction Via the Ridge tour is suitable for intermediate skiers.
Returning from Trail Junction on road
The two tours intersect at Trail Junction and at a mid-point thus making short and long loops possible by combining them.
Trail Junction is significant because it is the hub for four trails:
- Trail Junction Via the Road
- Trail Junction Via the Ridge
- Cosumnes Loop
- Anderson Ridge
These trails and others can be viewed on the same map in the Foster Meadow Road and Mormon Emigrant Trail Area tour.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Miles: 0.0 - 0.1
Elevation change: +100
From the trailhead (1) follow the markers up the slope to the east for 0.1 mile until you reach a snow-covered road (2). This is the only section of the tour that is not on a road.
Miles: 0.1 - 1.4
Elevation change: +100
Turn east (right) onto the road and follow it as it turns north for a total of 1.3 miles until you reach a saddle (4). About 100 feet after turning onto the road you will pass the turnoff for the ridge that is part of the Trail Junction Via the Ridge tour. At the saddle you intersect the ridge tour again.
Miles: 1.4 - 2.5
Elevation change: +150, -100
Continue northeast and then northwest on the road for a total of 1.1 miles until you reach Trail Junction (6), which is located on a ridgetop. After skiing 0.7 mile you will enter a clearing and the site of a snow survey course. Do not be tempted to turn north (right) as you pass through here; there is a summer road that heads that way but is not obvious in winter. At the northern-most end of the clearing follow the markers that continue along the road until you reach the ridgetop. This last section of road is narrow and not obvious.
Miles: 2.5 - 5.0
Elevation change: +100, -350 feet
Retrace the route for 2.5 miles back to the trailhead (1).
