AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Granite Chief Wilderness

Five Lakes Trailhead & Five Lakes Trail via Pacific Crest Trail

13.9 mi · ▲ 3,741 ft · 6 hr 30 min

Five Lakes Trailhead & Five Lakes Trail via Pacific Crest Trail is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route reaches Five Lakes Trailhead at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 3,741 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,542 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 32%14.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.16418, -120.23940
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Five Lakes Trailhead & Five Lakes Trail via Pacific Crest Trail

13.9 mi · ▲ 3,741 ft · 6 hr 30 min

Elevation 6,542–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.16418, -120.23940

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 82°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miSharp left, heading W.
  6. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
  10. 2.6 miSharp right onto Five Lakes Trail, heading W.
  11. 2.5 miReach Five Lakes Trailhead, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 2.5 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  13. 2.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  16. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  18. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  19. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  20. 50 ftArrive 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/five-lakes-trailhead-out-back-22-km

Trail surface

63% dirt37% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F50°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 82°59°
Wed 82°55°
Thu 86°55°
Fri 87°56°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 86°56°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~92 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California