East Carson River Trail
~3 days · 17.3 mi · moderate · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the East Carson River Trail is known for
Follows the East Fork of the Carson River upstream into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness from Hangman's Bridge near Markleeville, a point-to-point river-valley walk of roughly 16 miles. A riverside hot spring about five miles in is the classic overnight destination.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 20,991 ft to 29,987 ft over 17.3 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 11.8 mi · 68%
- Downhill 4.5 mi · 26%
- Flat 0.9 mi · 5%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the East Carson River Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the East Carson River Trail scores 23/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the East Carson River Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the East Carson River Trail in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 17.3 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the East Carson River Trail?
The East Carson River Trail climbs roughly 3,793 ft total — about 219 ft per mile, topping out near 9,199 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.