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

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,436 ft · 5 hr 55 min

Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 14.1-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,436 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,067 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 23%14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.22083, -120.19894
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Chief Trail (Middle)

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,436 ft · 5 hr 55 min

Elevation 6,065–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.22083, -120.19894

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
  3. 0.8 miBear right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 0.4 miBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NE.
  7. 2 miTurn left onto Sawtooth Spur, heading E.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  9. 2.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 2.2 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NW.
  11. 250 ftTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NW.
  12. 2 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
  16. 0.8 miSharp right, heading S.
  17. 0.5 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-23-km-3e95

Trail surface

92% dirt8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California