AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shirley Lake–Lake Cushing, 4 sights

7.1 mi · ▲ 2,489 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Shirley Lake–Lake Cushing, 4 sights is a 7.1-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route passes Lake Cushing before reaching Shirley Lake at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 2,489 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,290 – 8,134 ft · steepest grade: 25%8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.19550, -120.23914
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shirley Lake–Lake Cushing, 4 sights

7.1 mi · ▲ 2,489 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Elevation 6,289–8,133 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.19550, -120.23914

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 86°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Cushing.
  3. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 1 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 0.7 miSharp left, heading E.
  10. 500 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  12. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  14. 450 ftBear right onto Solitude Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.8 miPass Shirley Lake.
  16. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 250 ftContinue straight onto Shirley Canyon Trail, heading NW.
  18. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 400 ftReach Shirley Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left onto Solitude Trail, heading W.
  21. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  22. 450 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  25. 0.1 miBear right onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading S.
  26. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  27. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  28. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  29. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  31. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  32. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  33. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  34. 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/lake-cushing-shirley-lake-out-back-4-lakes-12-km-2d72

Trail surface

35% dirt65% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 86°F50°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
90°50°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue 86°61°
Wed 85°58°
Thu 88°58°
Fri 88°59°
Sat 89°59°
Sun 89°57°

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