Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 5 sights
6.7 mi · ▲ 1,878 ft · 3 hr 10 min
Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 5 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Emigrant Lake at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 1,878 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 5 sights
6.7 mi · ▲ 1,878 ft · 3 hr 10 min
Elevation 7,805–8,643 ft
Out & Back · 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 miTurn left onto Whiskey, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Whiskey Alt, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Whiskey, heading E.
- 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 SE.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Emigrant Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Emigrant Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading N.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Whiskey, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Whiskey Alt, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Whiskey, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Red Cliffs, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
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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