AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Royal Gorge

Serene Lakes–Kilborn Lake, 7 sights

10.7 mi · ▲ 757 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Serene Lakes–Kilborn Lake, 7 sights is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Kingvale, CA. The route passes Kilborn Lake and Serene Lakes. It climbs 757 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,670 – 7,054 ft · steepest grade: 16%11.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.30666, -120.41615
Nearest town Kingvale, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Serene Lakes–Kilborn Lake, 7 sights

10.7 mi · ▲ 757 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Elevation 6,672–7,054 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.30666, -120.41615

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 82°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Snow Mountain, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.8 miPass Kilborn Lake.
  6. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  7. 300 ftBear right onto Deer Lake, heading NE.
  8. 0.9 miReach Serene Lakes, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.6 miBear left, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miSharp right onto Kidd Lake, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading E.
  13. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
  15. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  18. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  22. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  23. 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
  24. 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading SE.
  26. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  27. 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading E.
  28. 1.3 miPass Serene Lakes.
  29. 350 ftBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading W.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SW.
  31. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading S.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading S.
  33. 300 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading S.
  34. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  37. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  39. 200 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  40. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  41. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  42. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  43. 350 ftTurn left onto Snow Mountain, heading W.
  44. 0.6 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/serene-lakes-kilborn-lake-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

74% dirt26% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F54°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity19%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°61°
Wed 85°58°
Thu 85°58°
Fri 86°59°
Sat 86°59°
Sun 87°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~135 min). Leave by 5:38 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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