AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle)

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,937 ft · 4 hr 8 min

Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 9.5-mile out-and-back near Ponderosa Palisades, CA. It climbs 1,937 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,240 – 7,136 ft · steepest grade: 27%9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.24975, -120.19060
Nearest town Ponderosa Palisades, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle)

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,937 ft · 4 hr 8 min

Elevation 6,240–7,136 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.24975, -120.19060

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 57° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading E.
  4. 1.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miSharp left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.7 miSharp left onto Western States Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miReach Western States Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.1 miSharp right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
  10. 1.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 0.4 miSharp left onto Big Chief Trail (Middle), heading NE.
  13. 1.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 0.3 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/western-states-trail-out-back-15-km-b0d0

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F57°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Wed 82°56°
Thu 87°54°
Fri 88°54°
Sat 88°55°
Sun 86°54°
Mon 85°52°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ponderosa Palisades, California