AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Granite Chief Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

11.7 mi · ▲ 2,190 ft · 5 hr

Pacific Crest Trail is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,190 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,867 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 30%12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.16630, -120.23674
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

11.7 mi · ▲ 2,190 ft · 5 hr

Elevation 6,866–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.16630, -120.23674

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 82°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 8 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. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 1.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  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 S.
  18. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  21. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 1.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  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-19-km-9989

Trail surface

21% gravel19% dirt60% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F50°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 82°60°
Wed 82°56°
Thu 86°56°
Fri 86°57°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 87°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:28 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