AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 3 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 962 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 3 sights is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Lake Van Norden at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 962 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,693 – 7,054 ft8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31343, -120.38980
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 3 sights

7.8 mi · ▲ 962 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Elevation 6,695–7,054 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31343, -120.38980

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading N.
  9. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  17. 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SE.
  18. 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SE.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  21. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miReach Lake Van Norden, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  24. 0.8 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SE.
  26. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  27. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  32. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  33. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  34. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  35. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  37. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  38. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  39. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  40. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  41. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  42. 350 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-van-norden-memorial-overland-emigrant-trail-out-back-3-sights-12-km

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Soda Springs, California