AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Loon Lake–Spider Lake, 6 lakes

14.6 mi · ▲ 1,937 ft · 5 hr 50 min

Loon Lake–Spider Lake, 6 lakes is a 14.6-mile out-and-back near Gilberts, CA. The route passes Loon Lake, Spider Lake and Mud Lake before reaching Rubicon Springs Overlook at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 1,937 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,240 – 6,749 ft · steepest grade: 18%14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.00055, -120.31463
Nearest town Gilberts, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Loon Lake–Spider Lake, 6 lakes

14.6 mi · ▲ 1,937 ft · 5 hr 50 min

Elevation 6,239–6,750 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.00055, -120.31463

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 82°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Loon Lake.
  3. 1.8 miTurn right onto Rubicon Trail, heading NE.
  4. 2.3 miPass Spider Lake.
  5. 50 ftPass Mud Lake.
  6. 1 miBear left onto Granite View Loop, heading SE.
  7. 1.2 miTurn right onto Marlin Crawler Route, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Granite View Loop, heading SE.
  9. 0.7 miTurn right onto TMI Camp Route, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miPass Rubicon Springs Overlook.
  11. 250 ftReach Loon Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Granite View Loop, heading SW.
  13. 0.7 miBear right onto Marlin Crawler Route, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Granite View Loop, heading S.
  15. 1.2 miBear right onto Rubicon Trail, heading SW.
  16. 5 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/rubicon-springs-overlook-out-back

Trail surface

95% dirt1% rock4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F53°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 84°61°
Wed 83°61°
Thu 87°62°
Fri 89°63°
Sat 88°63°
Sun 88°62°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~12 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:41 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Gilberts, California