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Training Hill
4.8 ★★★★★ 72 Google reviews · Running trail in Auburn, California · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 4.8 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Training Hill's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking area where trail running and horseback riding are also popular.
What runners say about Training Hill
“Just gorgeous and a good way to judge what kind of shape you're in!”
Great trail conditions - partly cloudy in the low to mid 60s. Hiked in a t-shirt and shorts. You have a choice of either going to the right up the very steep hill or do a gradual climb to the left. I opted to go right. It was a challenging hike. Your payoff is the meadows at the top - beautiful!
A 4.8 mile loop which is steep for almost half of it opens up to meadows on top. My wife and I prefer going up the steep part first which is to the right. Beautiful hike with a lot of scenery and a lot of exercise. You may come across horse riders but not a big deal for us.
Training Hill is short out & back, or better “up & down” off the Western States Tr just before the west end of No Hands bridge. The actual Hill starts after a brief access trail and is instantly recognized by its rocky steep ascent.
This was a great hike. Started very steep but it was easy after 30 minutes or so. It was flat after that for most of the time until last 15 minutes. Lot of hikes are merging on this hill so you may get confused if you don't have good map but GPS works at the top so that's helpful.
Trail conditions & character
“Training Hill is short out & back, or better “up & down” off the Western States Tr just before the west end of No Hands bridge.”
“Just gorgeous and a good way to judge what kind of shape you're in!”
“As it is a loop, one side is mostly a moderate climb with a few, flatter, breaks in between and the other is an easy decline.”
“It's around ~1,000 feet of elevation gain from the parking area around the loop.”
“The actual Hill starts after a brief access trail and is instantly recognized by its rocky steep ascent.”
Plan your run at Training Hill
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance4.8 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteparks.ca.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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