AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Granite Chief Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 2,100 ft · 4 hr 45 min

Pacific Crest Trail is an 11.1-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,100 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,893 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 30%11.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.16479, -120.23773
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 2,100 ft · 4 hr 45 min

Elevation 6,894–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.16479, -120.23773

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 82°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.6 miSharp right, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  9. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 300 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  13. 3.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 3.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  18. 0.6 miSharp right, heading SE.
  19. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  20. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
  24. 300 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/pacific-crest-trail-out-back-18-km-8d4f

Trail surface

35% dirt1% gravel64% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F50°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 82°60°
Wed 82°55°
Thu 86°55°
Fri 86°57°
Sat 86°57°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~101 min). Leave by 6:11 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California