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

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

13 mi · ▲ 2,448 ft · 5 hr 33 min

Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 13-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,448 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,080 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 28%13.3 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)

13 mi · ▲ 2,448 ft · 5 hr 33 min

Elevation 6,080–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.21316, -120.19892

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 87°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 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. 2.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 2.2 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-21-km-1499

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 87°F61°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
90°60°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Wed 86°60°
Thu 89°58°
Fri 90°59°
Sat 90°60°
Sun 89°59°
Mon 87°57°

Other ways to reach this destination

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