Northstar California Washoe 1.jpg
Leijurv · CC BY-SA 4.0

Boulder Dash–Karpiel, 8 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. It climbs 2,698 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,195 – 7,888 ft · steepest grade: 31%17.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Big Chief/Sawtooth Connector Trail 39.27017, -120.20129
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Boulder Dash–Karpiel, 8 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 2,698 ft · 6 hr 39 min

Elevation 6,196–7,886 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

  1. Start on Sawtooth Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right onto Bobbles, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Boulder Dash, heading E.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left onto Whoops, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading E.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoops, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading E.
  11. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lor Axe, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading E.
  13. 1.7 miTurn left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading NE.
  14. 2.1 miSharp right onto Tell No Tales, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftTurn right onto Boondocks, heading SE.
  17. 0.4 miBear left onto Coaster, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 500 ftBear left, heading S.
  21. 300 ftBear left onto Gypsy, heading S.
  22. 0.8 miSharp right onto Karpiel, heading S.
  23. 150 ftBear right onto Speed Control, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Karpiel, heading SW.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  26. 150 ftTurn right onto Speed Control, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wirecutter, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miSharp left onto Karpiel, heading NE.
  29. 250 ftReach Boulder Dash, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 250 ftSharp right onto Wirecutter, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Speed Control, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 150 ftTurn right onto Karpiel, heading S.
  34. 0.1 miBear right onto Speed Control, heading S.
  35. 50 ftBear left onto Karpiel, heading S.
  36. 100 ftSharp left, heading S.
  37. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Gypsy, heading SW.
  38. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  39. 300 ftBear right onto Coaster, heading SW.
  40. 0.3 miBear right onto Boondocks, heading N.
  41. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  42. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  43. 150 ftSharp right onto Tell No Tales, heading NW.
  44. 0.2 miSharp left onto Northstar Service Road 900, heading N.
  45. 2.1 miTurn right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading W.
  46. 1.7 miBear right onto Lor Axe, heading N.
  47. 50 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading N.
  48. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading N.
  49. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Whoops, heading W.
  50. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spaghetti, heading NW.
  51. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whoops, heading NW.
  52. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  53. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  54. 0.2 miTurn left onto Boulder Dash, heading S.
  55. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  56. 250 ftTurn right onto Bobbles, heading NW.
  57. 50 ftSharp left onto Sawtooth Trail, heading NW.
  58. 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

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