Granite Chief Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

13.1 mi · ▲ 2,295 ft · 5 hr 31 min

Pacific Crest Trail is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,295 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi7,094 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 33%13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.14239, -120.22934
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

13.1 mi · ▲ 2,295 ft · 5 hr 31 min

Elevation 7,094–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.14239, -120.22934

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 70°F / low 45° · precip 2% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 350 ftSharp right, heading E.
  3. 1.1 miBear left, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miSharp left, heading W.
  11. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 300 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  15. 3.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  16. 3.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  17. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  19. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  23. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  28. 1.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  29. 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

36% dirt10% gravel54% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 70°F45°
Precip2%Wind12 mphUV7Humidity40%
Hourly temperature
70°45°
Sunrise 6:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:00 PM
Wed 69°49°
Thu 73°47°
Fri 63°41°
Sat 68°40°
Sun 53°31°
Mon 63°28°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~125 min). Leave by 4:34 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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