Granite Chief Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

13.9 mi · ▲ 2,748 ft · 6 hr

Pacific Crest Trail is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 2,748 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,867 – 8,508 ft · steepest grade: 23%14.5 mi

Getting there

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

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

13.9 mi · ▲ 2,748 ft · 6 hr

Elevation 6,866–8,509 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.16630, -120.23674

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 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 right, heading SW.
  5. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 0.6 miSharp right, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  10. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  14. 3.5 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
  15. 1.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  16. 1.3 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  17. 3.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  21. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  23. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  24. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  25. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  28. 50 ftTurn 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

48% dirt1% gravel51% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~101 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 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