Kidd Lake–Kilborn Lake, 6 sights
12.1 mi · ▲ 1,650 ft · 4 hr 52 min
Kidd Lake–Kilborn Lake, 6 sights is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Donner, CA. The route passes Kilborn Lake before reaching Kidd Lake at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,650 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Kidd Lake–Kilborn Lake, 6 sights
12.1 mi · ▲ 1,650 ft · 4 hr 52 min
Elevation 6,691–7,332 ft
Out & Back · Royal Gorge
Trailhead: 39.30701, -120.33763
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Bill Patterson, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Nose Dive, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Ana's Chute, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Palisade, heading W.
- 0.6 miPass Kilborn Lake.
- 400 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Kidd Lake, heading W.
- 0.6 miReach Kidd Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading SE.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 1.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Nose Dive, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Ana's Chute, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 300 ftBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bill Patterson, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn 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 2.2 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Bill Patterson 2.1 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Bill Patterson 2.3 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Lake Mary 2.6 mi · ▲ 467 ft
- Ana's Chute & Nose Dive 4.3 mi · ▲ 610 ft
- Pine Marten 4.8 mi · ▲ 202 ft
- Mount Lincoln Viewpoint–Roller Pass Loop, 4 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 1,386 ft
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Hikes near Donner, California