Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 11 sights
13.3 mi · ▲ 3,366 ft · 6 hr 7 min
Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 11 sights is a 13.3-mile loop in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. It climbs 3,366 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 11 sights
13.3 mi · ▲ 3,366 ft · 6 hr 7 min
Elevation 7,791–9,550 ft
Loop · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: Forbidden Forest · 38.68878, -120.07543
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 78°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Funny Bunny, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Dangberg Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Hole 'N Wall, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach Sentinels Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Solitude, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Cutback, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Solitude, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Robey Wolfe, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Snowkirk, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Whiskey, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right onto Caples Crest, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 2.3 miTurn right onto Silver Lake-Horse Canyon Trail, heading SW.
- 2.2 miTurn right onto Thunder Mountain Loop, heading W.
- 3.1 miSharp right onto Sentinels Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Funny Bunny, heading SE.
- 0.2 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.9 mi in (~213 min). Leave by 4:18 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Forbidden Forest Trailhead
- Forbidden Forest & Sentinels Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 897 ft
- Dangberg Trail & Robey Wolfe via Solitude 3.7 mi · ▲ 671 ft
- Thunder Mountain–Forbidden Forest, 4 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,935 ft
- Castle Point–Castle Point Trail, 3 sights 7.4 mi · ▲ 1,849 ft
- Castle Point Trail–Forbidden Forest, 3 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 2,190 ft
- Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 7 sights 10.2 mi · ▲ 2,387 ft
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