Big Chief Trail (Lower) & Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
13.9 mi · ▲ 1,543 ft · 5 hr 24 min
Big Chief Trail (Lower) & Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 13.9-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. It climbs 1,543 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Chief Trail (Lower) & Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
13.9 mi · ▲ 1,543 ft · 5 hr 24 min
Elevation 6,333–7,624 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail · 39.27017, -120.20129
Weather Sep 22: Mostly clear, high 71°F / low 47° · precip 3% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading SE.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading S.
- 3.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NW.
- 0.6 miReach Big Chief Trail (Lower), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading E.
- 3.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading SW.
- 2.4 miBear left onto Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive 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
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
- 7.1 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 7.4 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 8.2 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 9 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 9.3 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 10 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 10.4 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 13.8 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
More from Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail Trailhead
- Booster–Boulder Dash, 9 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 2,309 ft
- Boulder Dash–Flying Dutchman, 3 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 268 ft
- Boulder Dash–Karpiel, 8 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 2,698 ft
- Lor Axe–Spaghetti, 3 sights 4 mi · ▲ 189 ft
- Splinter & West Side Trail via Sawtooth Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 909 ft
- Compass Skills Upper Loop–Flying Dutchman, 5 sights 6.4 mi · ▲ 272 ft
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