Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, 3 sights
9.9 mi · ▲ 2,762 ft · 4 hr 41 min
Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, 3 sights is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route reaches Polar Bear Lake at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 2,762 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
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Polar Bear Lake–Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, 3 sights
9.9 mi · ▲ 2,762 ft · 4 hr 41 min
Elevation 6,494–8,056 ft
Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness
Trailhead: 39.20020, -120.20833
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 84°F / low 49° · precip 0% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Snow King Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Red Dog Ridge, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Top of Siberia Lift to Intersect with Western States, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Polar Bear Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftBear left onto Top of Siberia Lift to Intersect with Western States, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right onto Red Dog Ridge, heading NE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Snow King Road, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Olympic Valley-Western States Connector, heading NE.
- 450 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
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