AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Polar Bear Lake & Western States Trail

11.5 mi · ▲ 2,268 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Polar Bear Lake & Western States Trail is an 11.5-mile out-and-back near Rampart, CA. The route reaches Polar Bear Lake at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 2,268 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,152 – 7,983 ft · steepest grade: 18%12.4 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 & Western States Trail

11.5 mi · ▲ 2,268 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Elevation 6,152–7,983 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail · 39.18715, -120.19526

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 6:59 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. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 0.6 miBear left onto World Cup Trail, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  12. 1.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miReach Polar Bear Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  26. 200 ftTurn right onto Western States Trail, heading S.
  27. 1.9 miBear left onto World Cup Trail, heading SE.
  28. 50 ftBear right onto Western States Trail, heading S.
  29. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  30. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  31. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  33. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  34. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  35. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  36. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading E.
  37. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  38. 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/western-states-trail-out-back-13-km-9861

Trail surface

64% dirt12% paved1% gravel23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:49 AMSunset 6:59 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