Big Hill Viewpoint & Ice House Reservoir via Ice House Union Valley Connector Trail 2 is a 13-mile out-and-back near Jones Place, CA. The route passes Ice House Reservoir before reaching Big Hill Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 1,861 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi4,997 – 6,132 ft · steepest grade: 21%13.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 38.83164, -120.34916
Nearest town Jones Place, CA
Directions
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Big Hill Viewpoint & Ice House Reservoir via Ice House Union Valley Connector Trail 2
13 mi · ▲ 1,861 ft · 5 hr 16 min
Elevation 4,995–6,132 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 38.83164, -120.34916
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Ice House Reservoir.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Ice House Union Valley Connector Trail 2, heading W.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 2.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 1.6 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Big Hill Road, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Big Hill Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.8 miSharp right onto Ice House Union Valley Connector Trail 2, heading NE.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
- 3.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 300 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
58% dirt11% paved31% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 8:11 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~169 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Jones Place, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Jones Place, California