Caples Lake–Caples Crest Loop, 7 sights is a 6.1-mile loop in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Caples Lake. It climbs 971 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi7,746 – 8,478 ft · steepest grade: 18%6.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 38.68737, -120.06583
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Caples Lake–Caples Crest Loop, 7 sights
6.1 mi · ▲ 971 ft · 2 hr 31 min
Elevation 7,748–8,478 ft
Loop · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: 38.68737, -120.06583
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 78°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Red Cliffs, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Whiskey, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Red Cliffs, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Whiskey Alt, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Whiskey, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Caples Crest, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Iron Horse Road, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 miPass Caples Lake.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Emigrant Lake Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Red Cliffs, heading W.
- 1.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.1 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.
Weather
ClearTemperature 78°F48°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV9Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
80°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue
78°55°
Wed
83°57°
Thu
83°57°
Fri
83°58°
Sat
83°58°
Sun
83°57°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 7:22 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Caples Lake via Red Cliffs 3 mi · ▲ 434 ft
- Caples Crest–Iron Horse Road, 5 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 763 ft
- Lower Corral–Red Cliffs, 5 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 659 ft
- Red Cliffs–Robey Wolfe, 3 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 769 ft
- Hole 'N Wall–Red Cliffs, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,067 ft
- Red Cliffs–Robey Wolfe, 4 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft
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