Woodlands Special Treatment Area
Big Dipper–Big Tree Trail, 3 sights
6.9 mi · ▲ 1,433 ft · 3 hr 1 min
Big Dipper–Big Tree Trail, 3 sights is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in Woodlands Special Treatment Area near Whiskey Springs, CA. It climbs 1,433 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Dipper–Big Tree Trail, 3 sights
6.9 mi · ▲ 1,433 ft · 3 hr 1 min
Elevation 27–787 ft
Out & Back · Woodlands Special Treatment Area
Trailhead: Railroad Gulch Road · 39.31572, -123.70627
Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 71°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Big Tree Trail, heading SE.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Steam Donkey / Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Big Dipper, heading NE.
- 1.3 miReach Big Tree Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Steam Donkey / Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Big Tree Trail, heading W.
- 1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Railroad Gulch Road Trailhead
- Big Tree Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 594 ft
- Big Tree Trail–Marsh Creek Trail Loop, 6 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 890 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Whiskey Springs, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Whiskey Springs, California