Launch from either the Pope Creek or Putah Creek bridge. Paddle about 4.2 miles (from the Putah Creek Bridge) up the Putah Creek Arm of the lake to the trailhead (see map below). This is a pleasant paddle on a wide waterway between low rolling hills punctuated by several large rock outcroppings. After the first two miles, the rest of the paddle is in a no-wake zone that is denoted by a line of buoys. The trailhead is on the left and is marked by blue and white flagging tape attached to shoreline trees. A view south from the trailhead is shown in the photo to the right.
The GPS coordinates of the trailhead are:
A trail map is shown below. Note that the trail location shown on the map is approximate.
There is no trail bed. The route is along tags, fire lines and an old road. Follow the white and blue tags uphill and south along the lake for about 6 tags. The tags then become orange. Follow the orange tags until you reach a recently cut fire line. The trail ascends a ridge along this line (untagged since the cut is all too evident) to an orange marker at the junction with an old road. Turning left, follow this road upward about 1/2 mile to another orange tag on the right. Turn right here and follow the orange tag line up through an open but wooded meadow to a ridge where the tag line ends at a burn line. Here there is a good view to the N and NW. Return the way you came.
A description, map and photos of the Pope to Putah Trail project are on the Yolohiker website. The trail shown here is the eastern end of the full trail which is still being constructed.
*Degree of Difficulty: Moderate 4-5 mile paddle, moderate 1 mile hike with an elevation gain of about 400 ft. (distances are one way and are approximate).
Putah Creek Arm between Launches and Trailhead
East end of Pope to Putah Trail
