Lookout Mountain–Boulder Dash, 7 sights is a 13.4-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. The route reaches Lookout Mountain at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 2,182 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,195 – 8,065 ft · steepest grade: 37%14.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail 39.27017, -120.20129
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lookout Mountain–Boulder Dash, 7 sights
13.4 mi · ▲ 2,182 ft · 5 hr 33 min
Elevation 6,196–8,066 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail · 39.27017, -120.20129
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 85°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Sawtooth Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Bobbles, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Boulder Dash, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Whoops, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoops, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading E.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lor Axe, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading E.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading NE.
- 2.1 miSharp right onto Tell No Tales, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miReach Lookout Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading NE.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading S.
- 1.7 miBear right onto Lor Axe, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading SW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Whoops, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoops, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Boulder Dash, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Bobbles, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Sawtooth Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
98% dirt2% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 85°F60°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Wed
86°56°
Thu
89°56°
Fri
90°57°
Sat
90°58°
Sun
89°57°
Mon
87°55°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.1 mi in (~184 min). Leave by 4:47 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail Trailhead
- Northstar Service Road 700 2 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Sawtooth Trail 2 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Sawtooth Trail 2 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Sawtooth Trail Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- 2 Beavers & a Bear–Boulder Dash Loop, 3 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 221 ft
- Lor Axe–Spaghetti, 3 sights 4 mi · ▲ 189 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Ponderosa Palisades, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Ponderosa Palisades, California