AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mokelumne Wilderness

Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 7 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 2,387 ft · 4 hr 36 min

Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 7 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Emigrant Lake at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 2,387 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,845 – 8,642 ft · steepest grade: 23%10.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Forbidden Forest 38.68878, -120.07543
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Emigrant Lake–Caples Crest, 7 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 2,387 ft · 4 hr 36 min

Elevation 7,846–8,643 ft

Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness

Trailhead: Forbidden Forest · 38.68878, -120.07543

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 Funny Bunny, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left onto Dangberg Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hole 'N Wall, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Cutback, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Solitude, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Robey Wolfe, heading S.
  7. 0.5 miBear right onto Snowkirk, heading NE.
  8. 0.7 miBear right onto Whiskey, heading N.
  9. 250 ftBear right onto Caples Crest, heading N.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading SE.
  12. 0.7 miSharp left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right onto Emigrant Lake Trail, heading NE.
  15. 1.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  17. 100 ftReach Emigrant Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 0.2 miBear left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading NW.
  21. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading SW.
  23. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading NW.
  24. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading E.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto Whiskey, heading E.
  26. 250 ftBear left onto Snowkirk, heading NE.
  27. 0.7 miBear left onto Robey Wolfe, heading S.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right onto Solitude, heading NW.
  29. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cutback, heading NW.
  30. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hole 'N Wall, heading S.
  31. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Dangberg Trail, heading N.
  32. 0.4 miTurn right onto Funny Bunny, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miArrive 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/emigrant-lake-emigrant-lake-out-back-16-km-fc37

Trail surface

36% dirt64% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 78°F48°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV9Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
80°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 78°55°
Wed 79°57°
Thu 82°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 Forbidden Forest Trailhead

Hikes near Kirkwood, California