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 Sep 21: Overcast, high 71°F / low 49° · precip 13% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:02 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

OvercastTemperature 71°F49°
Precip13%Wind6 mphUV6Humidity55%
Hourly temperature
75°45°
Sunrise 6:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:02 PM
Tue 68°46°
Wed 70°49°
Thu 72°46°
Fri 65°42°
Sat 68°41°
Sun 63°38°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:43 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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