Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 4 sights
3.4 mi · ▲ 738 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 4 sights is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Soda Springs, CA. The route reaches Lake Van Norden. It climbs 738 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Van Norden–Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, 4 sights
3.4 mi · ▲ 738 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Elevation 6,758–7,353 ft
Out & Back · Royal Gorge
Trailhead: 39.30647, -120.38127
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Switchback, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear right onto Summit Connection, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 500 ftReach Lake Van Norden, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 7:10 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Switchback 2.3 mi · ▲ 539 ft
- Switchback 2.6 mi · ▲ 603 ft
- Aster & Claim Jumper Bike Route Loop via Switchback 3 mi · ▲ 551 ft
- Bill & Flora's Point–Benches Viewpoint, 4 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 619 ft
- Bogus Basin–Overload Loop, 3 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 596 ft
- Mount Disney via Switchback 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,512 ft
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