AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Northstar California Burnout 1.jpg
Leijurv · CC BY-SA 4.0

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

11.3 mi · ▲ 2,251 ft · 4 hr 54 min

Big Chief Trail (Middle) is an 11.3-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,251 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,050 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 26%11.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.22231, -120.19928
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

11.3 mi · ▲ 2,251 ft · 4 hr 54 min

Elevation 6,051–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.22231, -120.19928

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Deer Creek Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 0.4 miBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading E.
  5. 2 miTurn left onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NE.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  7. 1.6 miSharp left onto Northstar Service Road 704, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miSharp right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  10. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NW.
  11. 250 ftTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading S.
  12. 2 miBear left, heading W.
  13. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  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-18-km-fde1

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California