Frosty sunset (Unsplash).jpg
Denys Nevozhai dnevozhai · CC0

Caples Lake–Red Cliffs, 3 sights is a 3.9-mile out-and-back near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Caples Lake at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 465 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7,746 – 7,947 ft · steepest grade: 18%4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.68376, -120.06477
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Caples Lake–Red Cliffs, 3 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 465 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Elevation 7,748–7,946 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.68376, -120.06477

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 350 ftBear left onto Whiskey, heading E.
  3. 450 ftSharp left onto Red Cliffs, heading N.
  4. 1.6 miBear right, heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 50 ftReach Caples Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 1.8 miSharp right onto Whiskey, heading S.
  9. 500 ftBear right, heading SE.
  10. 150 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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