AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

13.8 mi · ▲ 1,515 ft · 5 hr 21 min

Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 13.8-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. It climbs 1,515 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,359 – 7,533 ft14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.26271, -120.19797
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

13.8 mi · ▲ 1,515 ft · 5 hr 21 min

Elevation 6,359–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.26271, -120.19797

Weather Sep 20: Overcast, high 71°F / low 44° · precip 2% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.5 miSharp left onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading S.
  3. 2.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading S.
  6. 3.5 miTurn right onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 100 ftTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading E.
  9. 3.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading W.
  12. 2.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 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-16-km-e197

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 71°F44°
Precip2%Wind9 mphUV6Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
75°40°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:03 PM
Mon 73°49°
Tue 76°47°
Wed 76°46°
Thu 71°46°
Fri 70°43°
Sat 71°42°

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Ponderosa Palisades, California