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

Lake Margaret–Kirkwood Lake, 4 sights

7 mi · ▲ 703 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Lake Margaret–Kirkwood Lake, 4 sights is a 7-mile out-and-back near Kirkwood, CA. The route passes Kirkwood Lake and Kirkwood Lake before reaching Lake Margaret at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It climbs 703 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,491 – 7,753 ft7.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Kirkwood Lake Loop 38.70668, -120.08757
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Margaret–Kirkwood Lake, 4 sights

7 mi · ▲ 703 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Elevation 7,489–7,754 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Kirkwood Lake Loop · 38.70668, -120.08757

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 79°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Kirkwood Lake Loop, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Kirkwood Lake.
  3. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Kirkwood Lake.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miBear left onto Lake Margaret Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  10. 1.5 miReach Lake Margaret, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 0.4 miBear left onto Kirkwood Lake Loop, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 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-kirkwood-lake-out-back-3-lakes-11-km

Trail surface

72% dirt28% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 79°F54°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV9Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 79°58°
Wed 80°57°
Thu 83°57°
Fri 83°59°
Sat 83°58°
Sun 84°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:47 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Kirkwood, California