Backpack the Palisades Creek Trail

Truckee, California

4.0/5

based on 1 reviews

Save

View all 4 photos

All 4 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

15 miles

Elevation Gain

2200 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Joey Washburn

Fun but challenging hike where you can camp near a beautiful waterfall.

After driving out to Kidd Lakes and parking at the trailhead, you take off through some easy forest hiking past Cascade Lakes and Long Lake. Pay attention to the cairns marking the trail as you traverse across a large granite section with Devils Peak to your West. The trail is easy to follow and is well marked all the way down to Palisades Falls. It's 7-8 miles to the bottom, descending about 2200 vertical feet and can be done as a day hike, but its pretty challenging. You'll pass by a few waterfalls on the hike in as well - have your camera handy!

Enjoy camping right next to the falls and do some exploration down river to find a few more waterfalls within about 45 minute hike from basecamp.

There is a bit of timing issue to contend with to have ideal conditions for the hike and the falls. You'll want to go late enough in the spring that the road to Kidd Lake is mostly snow free, but early enough that the snowmelt is at full blast.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Camping

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Forest

River

Scenic

Waterfall

Swimming Hole

Reviews

Kyle Hassell

Backpack the Palisades Creek Trail

08/01/16

Stick to the trial, printout a map and reference location via phone gps if you'd like; My GPS worked almost up until the river/ creek confluence & waterfall area. Big guys bring 3-6L of water (one way) and you can refill at the river w/ some Purification Pills for the trip back. I will advise to bring a bear bag for your food supply and hang it in the nearby trees as there are Black Bears in the area. We had one devour our food that was roughly 20 ft from the camp, he circled the tent a few times at several different times during the night but didn't show any aggressive signs.

4.0

Micah Burress

Backpack the Palisades Creek Trail

06/10/15

I don't know if I'm the only one with an outdated topo of the area but I'd like to mention the spur trail to the upstream Heath Falls Overlook no longer exists. There are a couple of blazes near where the trail junction should be but its a cross country route. I did not attempt it. Also Devil's Peak is much nicer than the postpile you see at the Devil's Postpile National Monument down near Mammoth.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Swim at Long Lake near Truckee

The story goes that twenty or so years ago, long before the advent of the Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Area, some local Truckee boys decided to put a couple rope swings up on Long Lake near Soda Springs, CA, and they remain there to this day.Long Lake sits amongst a cluster of both man-made and glaciated lakes on a ridge between the Yuba and American River canyons. To get there, take the I-80 ...

Loch Leven Lakes Trail

The trail is easy to follow for the first half mile until you get to some large slabs of granite. As you continue up the trail look for stacked rocks, these will give you a an easy route as you continue up the mountain. The trail then starts to switch back eventually leading to a small bridge. After crossing the bridge you will proceed roughly 1/4 of a mile and end up at a set of railroad track...

Loch Leven Viewpoint Trail

Loch Leven Viewpoint Trail is an out-and-back trail to a viewpoint of the Loch Leven Lakes that is moderately difficult located near Truckee, California. This trail is just under 6.5 miles. If you're willing to add a little more than a mile to your adventure, you can head all the way to Upper Loch Leven Lakes (see the Loch Leven Lakes Trail adventure for more details). This trail is dog frien...

Hike to the Top of Andesite Peak

From the trail map sign, follow the dirt path straight, following signs for the cross-country skiing route, not snowmobiling. Continue until you see a trail marker. You'll veer left to head over to the Hole in the Ground trail. Once you see another identical trail map board, you'll head left. This is the official start of the Hole in the Ground trail, about 1 mile from where you parked your car...

Summit Castle Peak

The trailhead is very easy to access as it is just off Highway 80 at the Boreal Mountain exit. When taking the exit, take a turn to the North, rather than to Boreal on the South side of the Highway. On busy summer weekends this trailhead can get quite crowded so you may have to park at the bottom of the road less than 100 yards from the Highway 80 off-ramp. The first mile of the trail is actual...

Snowshoe to the Peter Grubb Hut

The Peter Grubb Hut is located below Castle Peak in Round Valley, 3 miles north of the Castle Peak trailhead near I-80. Overnight parking is available at the California Sno-Park at the Boreal-Castle Peak exit on I-80. Park on the frontage road east of the Boreal Inn and walk back under the freeway to the trailhead. Although only a short distance, the route is poorly marked by orange triangles m...

Backpack the Palisades Creek Trail

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Swim at Long Lake near Truckee

Loch Leven Lakes Trail

Loch Leven Viewpoint Trail

Hike to the Top of Andesite Peak

Summit Castle Peak

Snowshoe to the Peter Grubb Hut

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps