AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mokelumne Wilderness

Caples Lake–Caples Crest, 9 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 1,679 ft · 3 hr 38 min

Caples Lake–Caples Crest, 9 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Caples Lake at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 1,679 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,792 – 8,478 ft · steepest grade: 17%8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hole 'N Wall 38.68814, -120.07286
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Caples Lake–Caples Crest, 9 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 1,679 ft · 3 hr 38 min

Elevation 7,791–8,478 ft

Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness

Trailhead: Hole 'N Wall · 38.68814, -120.07286

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

  1. Start on Hole 'N Wall, heading W.
  2. 450 ftSharp left onto Solitude, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miBear left onto Cutback, heading S.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Solitude, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left onto Robey Wolfe, heading SE.
  6. 0.5 miBear right onto Snowkirk, heading E.
  7. 0.7 miBear right onto Whiskey, heading N.
  8. 250 ftBear right onto Caples Crest, heading N.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading E.
  11. 100 ftContinue straight onto Iron Horse Road, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miSharp left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading E.
  13. 1.4 miReach Caples Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 1.4 miSharp right onto Iron Horse Road, heading S.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading NW.
  16. 100 ftContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading W.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Whiskey, heading W.
  19. 250 ftBear left onto Snowkirk, heading W.
  20. 0.7 miBear left onto Robey Wolfe, heading W.
  21. 0.5 miTurn right onto Solitude, heading NW.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cutback, heading S.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto Solitude, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miSharp right onto Hole 'N Wall, heading W.
  25. 300 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/caples-lake-out-back-14-km

Trail surface

32% dirt68% unspecified

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°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Hole 'N Wall Trailhead

Hikes near Kirkwood, California