AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Granite Chief Wilderness

Twin Peaks via Pacific Crest Trail

13 mi · ▲ 2,626 ft · 5 hr 39 min

Twin Peaks via Pacific Crest Trail is a 13-mile out-and-back in Granite Chief Wilderness near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route reaches Twin Peaks at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 2,626 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,867 – 8,816 ft · steepest grade: 34%13.8 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Twin Peaks via Pacific Crest Trail

13 mi · ▲ 2,626 ft · 5 hr 39 min

Elevation 6,866–8,815 ft

Out & Back · Granite Chief Wilderness

Trailhead: 39.16630, -120.23674

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 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 left, heading S.
  5. 1.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  9. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 300 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  13. 3.5 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miReach Twin Peaks, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.7 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 N.
  20. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  21. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  24. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 1.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  28. 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/twin-peaks-out-back-21-km

Trail surface

27% dirt19% gravel54% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 8:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~107 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:27 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

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California