AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Frosty sunset (Unsplash).jpg
Denys Nevozhai dnevozhai · CC0

Kirkwood Lake via Lake Margaret Trail

7.8 mi · ▲ 699 ft · 2 hr 57 min

Kirkwood Lake via Lake Margaret Trail is a 7.8-mile out-and-back near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Kirkwood Lake at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 699 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7,579 – 8,035 ft8.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.70641, -120.03815
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Kirkwood Lake via Lake Margaret Trail

7.8 mi · ▲ 699 ft · 2 hr 57 min

Elevation 7,580–8,036 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.70641, -120.03815

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 77°F / low 47° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lake Margaret Trail, heading W.
  8. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miReach Kirkwood Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  18. 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/kirkwood-lake-kirkwood-lake-out-back-12-km

Trail surface

69% dirt31% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 77°F47°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV9Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
80°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 78°55°
Wed 78°57°
Thu 84°56°
Fri 84°58°
Sat 84°58°
Sun 83°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 7:43 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:31 PM — 8 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Kirkwood, California