Royal Gorge

Kilborn Lake–Deer Lake, 4 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 677 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Kilborn Lake–Deer Lake, 4 sights is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Kilborn Lake. It climbs 677 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,690 – 7,054 ft8.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.32146, -120.37984
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Kilborn Lake–Deer Lake, 4 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 677 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Elevation 6,689–7,054 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.32146, -120.37984

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 83°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miSharp right onto Summit Connection, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  5. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading W.
  6. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  10. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miBear right onto Palisade, heading NW.
  16. 0.7 miPass Kilborn Lake.
  17. 300 ftSharp left, heading W.
  18. 250 ftBear right onto Deer Lake, heading NW.
  19. 0.9 miReach Kilborn Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.9 miBear left, heading N.
  21. 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading NE.
  22. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
  24. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  27. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  30. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  31. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  32. 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading N.
  33. 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
  34. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
  35. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  36. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  37. 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

75% dirt25% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F54°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°60°
Wed 82°56°
Thu 86°56°
Fri 86°56°
Sat 87°57°
Sun 87°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 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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