AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Big Chief Trail (Lower)–Boulder Dash Loop, 7 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 1,538 ft · 5 hr 2 min

Big Chief Trail (Lower)–Boulder Dash Loop, 7 sights is a 12.8-mile loop near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. It climbs 1,538 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,204 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 17%13.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.24975, -120.19060
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Chief Trail (Lower)–Boulder Dash Loop, 7 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 1,538 ft · 5 hr 2 min

Elevation 6,204–7,535 ft

Loop

Trailhead: 39.24975, -120.19060

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 57° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.6 miTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading N.
  3. 2.4 miBear left onto Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Sawtooth Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miSharp right onto Bobbles, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Boulder Dash, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left onto Whoops, heading S.
  10. 150 ftContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoops, heading SE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading SE.
  14. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lor Axe, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading SE.
  16. 0.3 miTurn right onto Schaeffer Creek Trail, heading E.
  17. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 704, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading NE.
  19. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading S.
  20. 250 ftTurn right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading SW.
  21. 2.6 miBear right, heading N.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading N.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miThe loop closes 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/little-chief-north-pass-loop-22-km-0c9a

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F57°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Wed 82°56°
Thu 87°54°
Fri 88°54°
Sat 88°55°
Sun 86°54°
Mon 85°52°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ponderosa Palisades, California