Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle)

10 mi · ▲ 2,448 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle) is a 10-mile out-and-back near Carnelian Heights, CA. It climbs 2,448 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,240 – 7,533 ft · steepest grade: 28%10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Upper Deer Creek 39.23476, -120.15772
Nearest town Carnelian Heights, CA

Directions

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Western States Trail via Big Chief Trail (Middle)

10 mi · ▲ 2,448 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Elevation 6,240–7,535 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Upper Deer Creek · 39.23476, -120.15772

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 81°F / low 56° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start on Upper Deer Creek, heading N.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading SW.
  3. 2 miBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miSharp left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
  6. 1.7 miSharp left onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miReach Western States Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading E.
  9. 1.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  10. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 0.4 miBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NE.
  12. 2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 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 surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F56°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 81°60°
Wed 80°53°
Thu 79°52°
Fri 80°53°
Sat 79°54°
Sun 78°53°

Other ways to reach this destination

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