Carpenter Hill

Carpenter Hill is quite literally just a hill in the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills part of the state. The hill rises only 828-feet, but is still the highest point in Sacramento County. Climbing this small hill provides amazing views of the entire Central Valley. The top of the hill is covered in antennas and towers, as opposed to the snow-capped mountains of other parts of the state. To reach the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe, you can travel over Carpenter Hill. The hill can be seen from the Interstate and is just a few hundred feet from the exist off the highway. You can hike up to the top of Carpenter Hill and it is about three quarters of a mile in distance, probably about a fifteen minute walk for most people. There are signs that say "no trespassing," but hikers rarely experience a problem. Hikers have reported finding trash and empty bottles on the hill top and many believe that kids head up there after dark to party. While Carpenter Hill is no match for the palatial hills in the state, it is a fun day trip and little kids will enjoy visiting a mountain that is their size. If you are visiting California's capital city, take a few minutes to run by Carpenter Hill.