AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Margaret & Lake Margaret Trail

7.3 mi · ▲ 861 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Lake Margaret & Lake Margaret Trail is a 7.3-mile out-and-back near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Lake Margaret at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 861 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,491 – 8,193 ft · steepest grade: 15%7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.71504, -120.03902
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Margaret & Lake Margaret Trail

7.3 mi · ▲ 861 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Elevation 7,489–8,192 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.71504, -120.03902

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  3. 0.2 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 miSharp right onto Lake Margaret Trail, heading W.
  8. 1.4 miReach Lake Margaret, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  10. 1.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  14. 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miArrive 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-margaret-out-back-15-km

Trail surface

85% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:42 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:02 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:29 PM.

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Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Kirkwood, California