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5.4 miles
Distance
218 ft
Climb
-998 ft
Descent
00:56:41
Avg time
-780 ft
Altitude change
6,336 ft
Altitude min
7,142 ft
Altitude max
7,116 ft
Altitude start
6,335 ft
Altitude end
-2.7%
Grade
-20.3%
Grade max
18.5%
Grade min
4,649 ft
Distance climb
4 miles
Distance down
1,572 ft
Distance flat
00:56:41
Avg time
Big Chief Trail (Lower) Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Horse
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaBig Chief
Truckee, California -
Ref Number#16E85
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Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlue (5 votes)
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Local Popularity90 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 95 in E-Biking
- 30 in Trail Running
- 5 in Hiking
- 5 in Horseback
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Global Ranking#2347 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #1572 in E-Biking
- #98519 in Trail Running
- #2953 in Hiking
- #685 in Horseback
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Hiking SAC ScaleT1 Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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TTFs on TrailBerm, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump, Log Ride, Rock Face
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Land OwnerUSFS - Truckee Ranger District
The Truckee Trails Foundation worked with the USFS and Northstar California on a 7-mile non-motorized trail connecting the southern tip of the Sawtooth Trail up to Watson Lake and the Tahoe Rim Trail. Construction was completed in fall of 2018. A huge thanks to the National Forest Foundation and REI for making this possible
Trail Supporters
USFSLand Manager
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 6 rides
- 19 miles average
6 Months
- 19 rides
- 22 miles avg distance
All
- 836 rides
- Last: Jul 20, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Big Chief Trail... Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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Directions to big-chief-trail-lower-135028 trailhead
(39.235010, -120.170040)
Photos
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Videos
18 more »
Technical Trail Features (TTF)
- Berms & Jumps
Berm - Big Rock & Little Rock Rock Face
- Log Ride Log Ride
- Thing One & Thing Two Other
- Triple Drop Drop
Routes with this trail
★ 4.0 • 15 miles • 1,946 ft • 2 • Loop •
Climb road drop trail. Mostly drop but definitely pedally and a little climbing on the "descent". Although...
28 miles • 3,648 ft • 17 • Loop •
Climb road drop trail. Mostly drop but definitely pedally and a little climbing on the "descent". Although...
★ 1.5 • 311 miles • 41,183 ft • 58 • Loop •
This bikepacking route starts off fairly mild, and continually becomes more challenging as you go. fast...
37 Reviews & Comments
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Nearby Trails
- Sawtooth Road (upper) 16 ft
- Robie Park Road 1,365 ft
- Robie Park Connector 3,025 ft
- Lower Cena Lar Trail 3,593 ft
- Western States Trail/wells Road 1 mile
- By TheAngryTomato
TRAILFORKS & contributors - #135028 - 23,635 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Chief Trail (Lower)
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Where is Big Chief Trail (Lower) located?
Big Chief Trail (Lower) is located in Big Chief, Truckee, California, United States. It is part of the Big Chief trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.23501, -120.17004.
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How hard is Big Chief Trail (Lower)?
Big Chief Trail (Lower) is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 2.7%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Big Chief Trail (Lower)?
Big Chief Trail (Lower) has 218 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 998 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,336 ft to 7,142 ft.
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Is Big Chief Trail (Lower) a point to point trail?
Big Chief Trail (Lower) is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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