AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,805 ft · 4 hr

Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 9.3-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 1,805 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,080 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 26%9.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.21316, -120.19892
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

9.3 mi · ▲ 1,805 ft · 4 hr

Elevation 6,080–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.21316, -120.19892

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.8 miBear right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 0.4 miBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading E.
  6. 2 miTurn left onto Sawtooth Spur, heading E.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading S.
  11. 2 miBear left, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miTurn right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
  15. 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/big-chief-trail-middle-out-back-15-km-149c

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California