Lost Lake (west)–Upper Blue Lake, 5 lakes
14.9 mi · ▲ 2,885 ft · 6 hr 25 min
Lost Lake (west)–Upper Blue Lake, 5 lakes is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. The route passes Frog Lake and Lost Lake (west) before reaching Upper Blue Lake at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,885 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lost Lake (west)–Upper Blue Lake, 5 lakes
14.9 mi · ▲ 2,885 ft · 6 hr 25 min
Elevation 8,161–9,059 ft
Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: Meiss Trailhead · 38.69663, -119.99184
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 75°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miPass Frog Lake.
- 1.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Forestdale Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Forestdale Road, heading SE.
- 1.3 miPass Lost Lake (west).
- 1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Upper Blue Lake.
- 100 ftReach Lost Lake (west), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Evergreen Trail, heading N.
- 2.3 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right onto Forestdale Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 1.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 2.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 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 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM — 5 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Meiss Trailhead Trailhead
- Pacific Crest Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 348 ft
- ALP122 via Pacific Crest Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 492 ft
- 10N01 via Pacific Crest Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 570 ft
- Winnemucca Lake–Frog Lake, 3 lakes 4.8 mi · ▲ 535 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 768 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 768 ft
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