White Chief Trail

White Chief Trail starts at the Sawtooth trailhead in Mineral King and wastes no time gaining elevation through a mixed conifer forest before opening up into the kind of alpine meadow that makes you forget your burning quads. The path crosses Eagle Creek early on, then climbs steadily through granite-studded terrain toward the White Chief meadow, where you'll find the crumbling stone ruins of an 1870s mining cabin — one of the oldest structures in the southern Sierra. Beyond the meadow, the trail pushes into a dramatic marble canyon with a small cave system worth poking into. The route is rocky and occasionally faint in the upper sections, so basic route-finding skills help. Nearly six miles round trip with a strenuous rating means this one earns its views. History buffs and strong hikers who want a Mineral King trail without the crowds of Eagle Lake will love this one.