Alpine County: Trails, Forests and History

From a hillside, the Alpine County Museum and Historical Complex offers views of Markleeville, the surrounding meadows and the Sierra peaks to the west. Alpine County combines striking landscapes like these with historic sites, trails and outdoor activities.

History Around Markleeville

The Alpine County Historical Complex includes an Old Log Jail, the Webster School House, a Stamp Mill, a Basque Bread Oven, a Blacksmith Exhibit, historic machinery and the museum. The complex brings together a range of features: a school, crafts and machinery, as well as buildings and exhibits.

The Webster School House in Markleeville has a precisely dated history. Construction began in 1882; the first classes were held in October 1883. The two dates mark different milestones: the start of the schoolhouse project and the beginning of classes.

Alpine Landscapes and Outdoor Recreation

Grover Hot Springs State Park has a mineral pool where visitors can bathe. It is fed by six hot springs. The park is at the end of Hot Springs Road, four miles west of Markleeville, at an elevation of 5,900 feet in an alpine meadow. As pool availability can vary, it is recommended that you check before visiting.

The Indian Creek Recreation Area includes the Indian Creek Reservoir, the Indian Creek Campground and the East Fork of the Carson River. Pines and sagebrush characterize the foothill landscape described there. The paved access road is via Airport Road, which branches off California State Route 89 between Woodfords and Markleeville. Check road conditions according to the season.

Trails with Varied Profiles

The Charity Valley Trail runs about 8.5 miles through Alpine County and has an elevation gain of approximately 2,300 feet. For several miles, it follows Charity Valley Creek and passes waterfalls and beaver ponds. The trail is open to horseback riders and mountain bikers; check usage conditions and restrictions before setting out.

The Burnside Lake Trail is a two-mile connector trail with an elevation gain of approximately 900 feet. It first passes through dense mixed-conifer forest with wildflowers and old trees, then descends over rocky switchbacks. The approximately eight-mile Thornburg Canyon Trail offers a different scale: it is a historic wilderness trail with an elevation gain of 2,500 feet. The figures make the differences in trail length and elevation profile clear without conflating the routes. Details on these routes may change with trail conditions; check before your hike.

Near Woodfords is the Curtz Lake Interpretive Loop, a short, paved educational trail for an easy, informative walk. Check trail status after fires or storms. Lake Alpine offers recreational activities ranging from fishing, hiking and biking to kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, swimming, climbing and wildlife viewing. Forest Service rangers offer interpretive programs there during the summer months.

Cycling and Pass Scenery

Kirkwood Mountain Resort offers a summer mountain bike park with an extensive trail network and lift service on weekends in July and August. As these are seasonal operating details, check the current summer schedule.

The annual Death Ride – Tour of the California Alps is an endurance cycling event through Alpine County: the course covers 103 miles, climbs more than 14,000 feet and crosses up to five alpine passes. The course may change, so check this year's route.

In Alpine County, the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway passes through glacier-carved valleys and canyons, past ancient volcanic peaks and rugged, snow-covered granite ridges. There, the route reaches the intersection of SR 4 and SR 89; continuing on SR 89, it ends in the town of Markleeville. The Emigrant Trail over Ebbetts Pass opened in the early 1850s.

To help prepare for hikes, the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce shop offers detailed topographic maps and hiking maps for Alpine County. As visitor services can change, check the latest information as you plan.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kirkwood, Alpine Village, Marin, Sierra County, Fresno, Colusa County, Calaveras County, Kern.

Go to the main travel overview: California.