AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mokelumne Wilderness

Horse Thief Spring–Black Rock Lake, 7 sights

15.6 mi · ▲ 2,582 ft · 6 hr 29 min

Horse Thief Spring–Black Rock Lake, 7 sights is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Plasse, CA. The route passes Horse Thief Spring before reaching Black Rock Lake at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 2,582 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi7,874 – 8,596 ft · steepest grade: 19%15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mud Lake 4WD Trail 38.63472, -120.14128
Nearest town Plasse, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horse Thief Spring–Black Rock Lake, 7 sights

15.6 mi · ▲ 2,582 ft · 6 hr 29 min

Elevation 7,873–8,596 ft

Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness

Trailhead: Mud Lake 4WD Trail · 38.63472, -120.14128

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 76°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mud Lake 4WD Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.9 miBear left onto Porthole Gap 4WD Trail, heading SE.
  3. 1.4 miBear left onto Mud Lake 4WD Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miBear left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Pardoe 4WD Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.6 miBear right onto Munson Meadow Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pardoes 4WD Trail, heading S.
  9. 250 ftPass Horse Thief Spring.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Munson Meadow Trail, heading SE.
  11. 1.9 miTurn left, heading E.
  12. 0.9 miPass Black Rock Lake.
  13. 50 ftReach Horse Thief Spring, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 2.8 miContinue straight onto Pardoes 4WD Trail, heading W.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Munson Meadow Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.5 miBear left onto Pardoe 4WD Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.6 miTurn left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left onto Mud Lake 4WD Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.9 miBear right onto Porthole Gap 4WD Trail, heading W.
  21. 1.4 miBear right onto Mud Lake 4WD Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.9 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/horse-thief-spring-out-back

Trail surface

20% dirt80% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 76°F54°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV9Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 77°57°
Wed 77°56°
Thu 82°56°
Fri 82°57°
Sat 82°57°
Sun 82°56°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Mud Lake 4WD Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Plasse, California