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

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 Aug 3: Clear, high 76°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 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 surface

85% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 76°F51°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV9Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 77°58°
Wed 77°56°
Thu 82°55°
Fri 82°57°
Sat 83°57°
Sun 82°56°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 7:42 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM — 2 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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