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 Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 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
Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.1 mi in (~184 min). Leave by 3:39 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:55 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
- Big Chief Trail (Lower) & Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Middle) 13.9 mi · ▲ 1,543 ft
- Booster–Boulder Dash, 9 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 2,309 ft
- Boulder Dash–Flying Dutchman, 3 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 268 ft
- Boulder Dash–Karpiel, 8 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 2,698 ft
- Lor Axe–Spaghetti, 3 sights 4 mi · ▲ 189 ft
- Splinter & West Side Trail via Sawtooth Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 909 ft
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