Chickering American River Reserve
Coldstream Trail & Granite Chief Trail via Pacific Crest Trail
15.4 mi · ▲ 3,982 ft · 7 hr 7 min
Coldstream Trail & Granite Chief Trail via Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Chickering American River Reserve near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 3,982 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Coldstream Trail & Granite Chief Trail via Pacific Crest Trail
15.4 mi · ▲ 3,982 ft · 7 hr 7 min
Elevation 6,461–8,633 ft
Out & Back · Chickering American River Reserve
Trailhead: 39.20150, -120.23306
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Granite Chief Trail, heading NW.
- 2.6 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 3.6 miBear right onto Coldstream Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Pole Creek OHV Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach Granite Chief Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Coldstream Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 3.6 miSharp left onto Granite Chief Trail, heading S.
- 2.6 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~140 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Granite Chief Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 756 ft
- Granite Chief & Granite Chief Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 10.4 mi · ▲ 2,868 ft
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Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California