Little Chief–North Pass, 4 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 963 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Little Chief–North Pass, 4 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. The route passes Little Chief before reaching North Pass at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 963 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,280 – 7,130 ft · steepest grade: 18%9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Timber Cruise Trail 39.29583, -120.19603
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Little Chief–North Pass, 4 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 963 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Elevation 6,279–7,130 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Timber Cruise Trail · 39.29583, -120.19603

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftSharp left onto Sawtooth Trail, heading E.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wood Splitter Jump Trail, heading E.
  4. 250 ftTurn right onto Sawtooth Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Flying Dutchman, heading S.
  6. 1 miTurn right onto Bobbles, heading S.
  7. 0.7 miBear right onto Sawtooth Trail, heading S.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Bobbles, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miBear left onto Big Chief Trail (Lower), heading SE.
  10. 2.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miPass North Pass.
  12. 100 ftReach Little Chief, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 2.5 miBear right, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right onto Sawtooth Trail, heading N.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Bobbles, heading N.
  16. 0.7 miTurn left onto Flying Dutchman, heading NW.
  17. 1 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Wood Splitter Jump Trail, heading N.
  19. 300 ftContinue straight onto Sawtooth Trail, heading N.
  20. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  21. 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 surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 8:11 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Timber Cruise Trail Trailhead