Granite Chief Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

12.7 mi · ▲ 2,307 ft · 5 hr 23 min

Pacific Crest Trail is a 12.7-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,307 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 88/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,969 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 31%13.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.14769, -120.21580
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

12.7 mi · ▲ 2,307 ft · 5 hr 23 min

Elevation 6,970–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.14769, -120.21580

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  3. 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  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. 300 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. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  28. 0.8 miSharp right, heading E.
  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

34% dirt10% gravel56% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~123 min). Leave by 4:38 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead