AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley Bike Trail, 4 sights

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,351 ft · 5 hr 53 min

Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley Bike Trail, 4 sights is a 14.1-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route reaches Polar Bear Lake at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 2,351 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,162 – 7,983 ft · steepest grade: 16%15.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Olympic Valley Bike Trail 39.19874, -120.22954
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley Bike Trail, 4 sights

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,351 ft · 5 hr 53 min

Elevation 6,160–7,983 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Olympic Valley Bike Trail · 39.19874, -120.22954

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 86°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Olympic Valley Bike Trail, heading NE.
  2. 1.6 miBear right onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftBear left onto Olympic Valley Bike Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading E.
  5. 0.7 miTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading W.
  6. 1.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.6 miBear left onto World Cup Trail, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  10. 1.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 100 ftBear left onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miReach Polar Bear Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  22. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  24. 200 ftTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading S.
  25. 1.9 miBear left onto World Cup Trail, heading E.
  26. 50 ftBear right onto Western States Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  28. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  29. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 1.3 miTurn left onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading NE.
  31. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Olympic Valley Bike Trail, heading E.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading E.
  33. 50 ftBear left onto Olympic Valley Bike Trail, heading E.
  34. 1.4 miArrive 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/polar-bear-lake-polar-bear-lake-out-back-18-km

Trail surface

69% dirt22% paved9% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 86°F50°
Precip0%Wind1 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
90°50°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue 86°61°
Wed 85°58°
Thu 89°58°
Fri 90°59°
Sat 89°60°
Sun 88°58°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Olympic Valley Bike Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California