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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Summit Connection, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Palisade, heading NW.
- 0.7 miPass Kilborn Lake.
- 300 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 250 ftBear right onto Deer Lake, heading NW.
- 0.9 miReach Kilborn Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading N.
- 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading NE.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
- 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
Weather
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.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail–Summit Connection Loop, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 583 ft
- Pine Marten 3 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Serene Lakes & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Benches Viewpoint & Switchback 4.6 mi · ▲ 686 ft
- Overload & Switchback via Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 707 ft
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