116 Road via Big Chief Trail (Upper)
3.9 mi · ▲ 738 ft · 1 hr 40 min
116 Road via Big Chief Trail (Upper) is a 3.9-mile out-and-back near Carnelian Heights, CA. It climbs 738 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
116 Road via Big Chief Trail (Upper)
3.9 mi · ▲ 738 ft · 1 hr 40 min
Elevation 7,216–7,794 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Upper Deer Creek · 39.23476, -120.15772
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
- Start on Upper Deer Creek, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto 116 Road, heading N.
- 1.2 miReach 116 Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 5:43 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Upper Deer Creek Trailhead
- Northstar Service Road 700 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,083 ft
- Cena Lar Trail 8.8 mi · ▲ 2,466 ft
- Northstar Service Road 700 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,052 ft
- Northstar Service Road 700 4.1 mi · ▲ 910 ft
- Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle) 10 mi · ▲ 2,448 ft
- Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Upper) 1.9 mi · ▲ 442 ft
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Hikes near Carnelian Heights, California