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
- Start on Upper Deer Creek, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading SW.
- 2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 1.7 miSharp left onto Western States Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miReach Western States Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NE.
- 2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 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
- 7.4 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 8.1 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 9.3 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 8.6 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 13 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
- 11.9 mi · out & back · via Big Chief Trail (Middle)
More from Upper Deer Creek Trailhead
- Sawtooth Spur via Big Chief Trail (Upper) 1.9 mi · ▲ 442 ft
- 116 Road via Big Chief Trail (Upper) 3.9 mi · ▲ 738 ft
- Northstar Service Road 700 4.1 mi · ▲ 910 ft
- Northstar Service Road 700 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,052 ft
- Northstar Service Road 700 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,083 ft
- Cena Lar Trail 8.8 mi · ▲ 2,466 ft
Get outside more
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