AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Granite Chief Wilderness

Polar Bear Lake–Red Dog Ridge, 3 sights

11.2 mi · ▲ 2,962 ft · 5 hr 13 min

Polar Bear Lake–Red Dog Ridge, 3 sights is an 11.2-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Rampart, CA. The route reaches Polar Bear Lake at the turnaround, 5.6 miles in. It climbs 2,962 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,152 – 8,055 ft · steepest grade: 27%11.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail 39.18715, -120.19526
Nearest town Rampart, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Polar Bear Lake–Red Dog Ridge, 3 sights

11.2 mi · ▲ 2,962 ft · 5 hr 13 min

Elevation 6,152–8,056 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail · 39.18715, -120.19526

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.7 miBear right onto Snow King Road, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Red Dog Ridge, heading W.
  10. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  11. 1 miSharp right, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Top of Siberia Lift to Intersect with Western States, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftReach Polar Bear Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Top of Siberia Lift to Intersect with Western States, heading NW.
  18. 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
  19. 1 miTurn right onto Red Dog Ridge, heading NE.
  20. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Snow King Road, heading NE.
  21. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  26. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/polar-bear-lake-polar-bear-lake-out-back-25-km

Trail surface

42% dirt13% paved1% gravel44% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 8:11 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Truckee River Bike Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Rampart, California