Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 3 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 780 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 3 lakes is a 7.9-mile out-and-back near Lake Alpine, CA. The route passes Elephant Rock Lake and Summit Lake. It climbs 780 ft. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,647 – 7,094 ft7.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Elephant Rock Trailhead 38.43983, -119.97583
Nearest town Lake Alpine, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 3 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 780 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Elevation 6,647–7,094 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Elephant Rock Trailhead · 38.43983, -119.97583

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Forest Route 7N01, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Elephant Rock Lake.
  3. 0.7 miPass Summit Lake.
  4. 3.2 miReach Summit Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 3.9 miArrive 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

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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