Royal Gorge

Kilborn Lake & Deer Lake via Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail

6.2 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Kilborn Lake & Deer Lake via Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Kilborn Lake. It climbs 423 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,690 – 6,985 ft6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Kilborn Lake & Deer Lake via Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail

6.2 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Elevation 6,689–6,984 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading N.
  9. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 0.7 miPass Kilborn Lake.
  11. 250 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  12. 300 ftBear right onto Deer Lake, heading N.
  13. 0.9 miReach Kilborn Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.9 miBear left, heading N.
  15. 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading N.
  16. 0.8 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 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 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:50 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM — 11 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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