Watson Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City
Big Chief
- 16.3 mi
- round trip
- 1,727 ft
- climb
- 7,850 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Big Chief open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.
Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Big Chief is a hard hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Truckee Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back of about 16 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,727 feet, taking you from a low point of 6,326 feet to a high of 7,850 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tahoe City show July highs around 78°F with lows near 46°F and only about one wet day in the month. That station sits roughly 1,600 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The trail is open year-round, and the surface is natural. Bikes are allowed, and the Big Chief Trail (Upper) starts just 0.1 mile away. The Tahoe Rim Trail is about 0.4 mile off. Climbers can head to Crawford Boulder, about 2.6 miles away, and campers to Silver Creek-Truckee, about 3.1 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after The Outpost
Restaurant
On your way back · 1 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Sunnyside-Tahoe CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions5 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Big Chief
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
40° / 21°
11 wet · 7 snow
Feb
40° / 21°
10 wet · 7 snow
Mar
45° / 24°
10 wet · 7 snow
Apr
50° / 28°
8 wet · 4 snow
May
59° / 34°
7 wet · 1 snow
Jun
69° / 40°
3 wet
Jul
78° / 46°
1 wet
Aug
77° / 45°
2 wet
Sep
70° / 41°
2 wet
Oct
59° / 33°
4 wet · 1 snow
Nov
48° / 26°
7 wet · 3 snow
Dec
40° / 21°
10 wet · 6 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoe City, CA, 4.3 mi away at 6,230 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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