Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 6 sights
11 mi · ▲ 1,335 ft · 4 hr 20 min
Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 6 sights is an 11-mile out-and-back near Lake Alpine, CA. The route passes Elephant Rock Lake and Elephant Rock Lake before reaching Summit Lake at the turnaround, 5.4 miles in. It climbs 1,335 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 6 sights
11 mi · ▲ 1,335 ft · 4 hr 20 min
Elevation 6,905–7,527 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Inspiration Point Trailhead · 38.48024, -119.98958
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
- Start on Lakeshore Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Silver Valley to Lakeshore Connector, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Highland Creek Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading SE.
- 3 miTurn right onto Union Rock Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Elephant Rock Lake.
- 0.3 miPass Elephant Rock Lake.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Forest Route 7N01, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftReach Summit Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Forest Route 7N01, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Union Rock Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading NE.
- 3 miContinue straight onto Highland Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Silver Valley to Lakeshore Connector, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lakeshore Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive 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 5.3 mi in (~145 min). Leave by 4:16 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Inspiration Point Trailhead Trailhead
- Lake Alpine to Silver tip Path–Silver Valley to Lakeshore Connector, 3 sights 7.4 mi · ▲ 806 ft
- Bee Gulch Trail–Lodgepole, 7 sights 15.4 mi · ▲ 3,209 ft
- Cape Horn Trail & Silver Valley to Lakeshore Connector via Highland Creek Trail 4 mi · ▲ 601 ft
- Lower Woodchuck Trail–Silver Valley to Lakeshore Connector, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 538 ft
- Inspiration Point–Lake Alpine, 6 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 966 ft
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