California · Hiking · Granite Chief Wilderness · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Big Spring

1.7 mi
round trip
191 ft
climb
6,566 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Big Spring 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 Spring is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.7 miles in the Granite Chief Wilderness, part of the Truckee Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California. The trail rises about 190 feet from a low point of 6,381 feet to a high of 6,566 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The route is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and bikes are not allowed. It works well as a short outing in the wilderness, and the trail is open year-round. 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. Winter brings highs near 40°F and several snowy days a month from December through February. Shanks Cove is about 0.6 miles away, and the Historic Western States Trail is about 1.1 miles off. Climbers can head to Center Wall, about 3.6 miles away, and Talbot campground is about 6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Whisky Creek Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 1.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Chalet

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Big Spring

    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.

    1. Jan

      40° / 21°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 21°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 24°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 28°

      8 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      59° / 34°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 46°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 45°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 41°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 33°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      48° / 26°

      7 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 21°

      10 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoe City, CA, 7.1 mi away at 6,230 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Historic Western States TrailPhoto: schvin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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