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Trail Conditions
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Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users activity logs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Used
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
Max Vehicle Width
inches
US Cell Coverage
Legend
Radar Time
Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Winter Trails
Warning
A routing network for winter maps does not exist. Selecting trails using the winter trails layer has been disabled.
Missing Trails
Most Popular
Least Popular
Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
![map legend]()
Service Road Atlas is a free to use, community-driven service for viewing and creating reports on the numerous back-country service roads around B.C. and Alberta.
Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with no bike usage.
Suggested Layers
Based on selected activity type
Save the current map location and zoom level as your default home location whenever this page is loaded.
SaveBig Chief trails and routes are listed on Trailforks with interactive trail maps, difficulty ratings, photos, and user-reported trail conditions. The Trailforks community has shared hundreds of photos from this region. Supported activity types include Mountain Biking, Hiking, Trail Running, Horseback, E-Biking, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Snowmobiling and Snowshoeing.
This is an auto-generated description of Big Chief.
Login or register to submit a custom description.
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
Land Status: National Forest
Land Manager: USFS - Truckee Ranger District
Trail info last updated
Region Supporters & Maintainers
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
12 trails
- E-Bike
7 trails
- Horse
8 trails
- Hike
12 trails
- Trail Running
12 trails
- Dirtbike/Moto
5 trails
- ATV/ORV/OHV
1 trails
- Snowmobile
1 trails
- Snowshoe
1 trails
Region Details
- 5
- 3
- 4
Region Status
Caution as of Sep 1, 2026Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 12
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 12
- Trails E-Bike
- 7
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 5
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 2
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 3
- Trails Horse
- 8
- Trails Hike
- 12
- Trails Trail Running
- 12
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 5
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 1
- Trails Snowmobile
- 1
- Trails Snowshoe
- 1
- Total Distance
- 21 miles
- Total Descent Distance
- 12 miles
- Total Descent
- 3,720 ft
- Total Vertical
- 1,551 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 7,860 ft
- Reports
- 189
- Photos
- 102
- Completed Counter
- 2,754
Popular Big Chief Mountain Biking Trails
• 90 ★ 4.5 • 2 miles • 27 ft • 1,540 •
Upper section of Big Chief Trail - if you enjoyed the features of the lower section but were hoping for a bit more momentum, you will love this section. The upper section is more difficult than the lower, with a handful of mandatory...
• 45 ★ 2.0 • 2 miles • 11 ft • 65 • • horse
Blown out moto trail that's decent fun downhill. While the top half is relatively flat and boring, the bottom half quickly speeds up and is significantly more technical. Expect large erosion ruts and ball bearings.
• 20 ★ 2.0 • 4,908 ft • 21 ft • 58 • • moto
Loose and eroded moto trail; lotsa fun.
• 45 ★ 0.0 • 968 ft • 25 ft • 36 •
Moderately popular black diamond difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. On average it takes minutes to complete this trail.
• 10 ★ 0.0 • 1 mile • 149 ft • 6 • • horse
Less popular blue difficulty singletrack. This horse primary trail can be used both directions.
Photos of Big Chief Mountain Bike
Videos of Big Chief Mountain Bike
Current Trail Warnings
| status | trail | date | condition | user | info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawtooth Road (Middle) | Sep 1, 2026 @ 4:59pm (America/Los_Angeles) Sep 1, 2026 | Very Dry | dsick |
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Chief Trail (Upper) | Aug 14, 2026 @ 9:55am (America/Boise) Aug 14, 2026 | Very Dry | ErnieR MORE-MD LDRSH | ||
| Lor Axe | Jul 29, 2026 @ 1:59pm (America/Los_Angeles) Jul 29, 2026 | Very Dry | TfS4pU | ||
| Sawtooth Spur | May 3, 2026 @ 12:07pm (America/Los_Angeles) May 3, 2026 | Unknown | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Light Deprivation Buttress Approach Trail | May 3, 2026 @ 12:07pm (America/Los_Angeles) May 3, 2026 | Unknown | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Big Chief Trail (Lower) | May 3, 2026 @ 12:07pm (America/Los_Angeles) May 3, 2026 | Unknown | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Big Chief Approach Trail | May 3, 2026 @ 12:07pm (America/Los_Angeles) May 3, 2026 | Unknown | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Upper Cena Lar Trail | Jun 28, 2024 @ 11:52am Jun 28, 2024 | Dry | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Lower Cena Lar Trail | Jun 28, 2024 @ 11:51am Jun 28, 2024 | Dry | TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS | ||
| Robie Park Connector | Dec 4, 2021 @ 12:02pm Dec 4, 2021 | Variable | Redhawk BONC | ||
| Big Chief/Northstar Connector | Aug 6, 2020 @ 2:52pm Aug 6, 2020 | Dry | Sirbrian |
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dsick | add | report | activity #102869222 | Sep 1, 2026 @ 8:04pm Sep 1, 2026 |
| ErnieR | vote | trail | activity #101741044 | Aug 17, 2026 @ 7:53pm Aug 17, 2026 |
| Magoglia | wishlist | trail | activity #101679952 | Aug 16, 2026 @ 9:27pm Aug 16, 2026 |
| elegantinten | wishlist | trail | activity #101555629 | Aug 15, 2026 @ 11:41am Aug 15, 2026 |
| fullcontact | wishlist | trail | activity #101533909 and 1 more | Aug 15, 2026 @ 8:14am Aug 15, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trail | Trail is not rideable yet, about 20+ down... | May 2, 2026 @ 4:48pm May 2, 2026 | ||
| trail | This is one of my favorite trails in Truckee!... | May 2, 2026 @ 12:29pm May 2, 2026 | ||
| report | Yup…downed trees. But more importantly, why... | Nov 9, 2025 @ 3:02pm Nov 9, 2025 | ||
| trail | The top section is an awesome trail. The... | Sep 15, 2025 @ 1:29pm Sep 15, 2025 | ||
| trail | “Old school” MTB trail. I agree with the... | Sep 1, 2025 @ 9:34am Sep 1, 2025 |
Nearby Areas
| name | distance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek | 3 | 1.6 km | |||
| Five Creeks | 4 | 1 | 2.9 km | ||
| Painted Rock | 12 | 2 | 3 km | ||
| Northstar at Tahoe Resort | 4 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 3.1 km |
| Sawtooth | 16 | 21 | 3.1 km |
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 12 | 21 miles | 3,720 ft | 12 miles | 1,552 ft | #6,932 | #2,628 | 101 | 189 | 404 | ||
| E-Bike | 7 | 17 miles | 2,851 ft | 10 miles | 1,552 ft | #5,775 | #1,630 | 167 | 67 | |||
| Gravel Bike | 5 | 7 miles | 482 ft | 2 miles | 732 ft | 3 | ||||||
| Adaptive Bike | 2 | 2 miles | 381 ft | 2 miles | 394 ft | 3 | ||||||
| Winter Fat Bike | 3 | 6 miles | 433 ft | 1 mile | 804 ft | 1 | ||||||
| Horse | 8 | 18 miles | 2,877 ft | 10 miles | 1,552 ft | #2,055 | #1,104 | 116 | ||||
| Hike | 12 | 21 miles | 3,720 ft | 12 miles | 1,552 ft | #8,857 | #3,288 | 1 | 188 | 45 | ||
| Trail Running | 12 | 21 miles | 3,720 ft | 12 miles | 1,552 ft | #8,318 | #2,834 | 188 | 1 | |||
| Dirtbike/Moto | 5 | 10 miles | 1,457 ft | 4 miles | 1,243 ft | #980 | #446 | 38 | 40 | |||
| ATV/ORV/OHV | 1 | 4 miles | 341 ft | 732 ft | #850 | #467 | 36 | 2 | ||||
| Snowmobile | 1 | 4 miles | 341 ft | 732 ft | #322 | #152 | 18 | |||||
| Snowshoe | 1 | 4 miles | 341 ft | 732 ft | #2,291 | #1,282 | 18 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
▼
What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Big Chief?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Big Chief are:
- Big Chief Trail (Upper) (4.4/5)
- Big Chief Trail (Lower) (4.3/5)
- Lor Axe (3.9/5)
- Lower Cena Lar Trail (3.7/5)
- Upper Cena Lar Trail (3.7/5)
▼
Where can I park to ride in Big Chief?
Check the Big Chief trail map for trailhead and parking information. Community members regularly update access and parking details for trails in the area.
▼
What is the longest trail in Big Chief?
The longest trail in Big Chief is Big Chief Trail (Lower) at 5.4 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated dirtbiking trails in Big Chief?
The best dirtbiking trails in Big Chief are: View all dirtbiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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How many trails are in Big Chief?
Big Chief has a total of 12 trails. Browse top mountain biking trails in Big Chief to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
▼
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Big Chief?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Big Chief is Big Chief Trail (Lower) with 218 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Big Chief?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Big Chief is Big Chief Trail (Lower) with 998 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Big Chief?
Big Chief supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Horseback, Hiking, Trail Running, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing.
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Big Chief?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Big Chief is Cena Lar Trail with an average grade of 1.3%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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What trails have the biggest jumps in Big Chief?
The trails with the biggest jumps in Big Chief are: Browse all mountain bike trails to find trails with jumps and technical features.
▼
Are the trails open in Big Chief?
The overall region status for Big Chief is Minor Issue / Yellow. Out of 11 trails:
- Clear / Green: 5
- Significant Issue / Amber: 1
- Closed: 5
▼
Can I ride an ebike in Big Chief?
Yes, Big Chief supports e-bike riding. There are 6 trails in Big Chief that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Big Chief?
The most popular Strava segments in Big Chief are:
- Lower Big Chief - Descent (5,452 athletes)
- Upper Big Chief - Lower Descent (4,499 athletes)
- Upper Big Chief - Upper Descent (4,329 athletes)
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What are some popular technical trail features in Big Chief?
There are 7 technical trail features (TTFs) in Big Chief. Some popular features include:
- Log Ride (Log Ride)
- Berms & Jumps (Berm)
- Big Rock & Little Rock (Rock Face)
- Thing One & Thing Two (Other)
- Triple Drop (Drop)
▼
What trails are closed in Big Chief?
There are currently 5 closed trails in Big Chief. The breakdown of all trail statuses is:
- Clear / Green: 5
- Significant Issue / Amber: 1
- Closed: 5
▼
What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Big Chief?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Big Chief are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by popularity.
Activities
Trails
- By TheAngryTomato TRAILFORKS & contributors
- Admins: BONC, TTF, TDLT, DPMR, erikhillard, elikat715, Redhawk, limbolizard, Petewick, allisonbriney
- #58448 - 4,110 views
- big chief activity log | embed map of Big Chief mountain bike trails | big chief mountain biking points of interest polygons
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Big Chief.
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