Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 10 sights
13 mi · ▲ 3,281 ft · 5 hr 58 min
Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 10 sights is a 13-mile loop in Mokelumne Wilderness near Kirkwood, CA. It climbs 3,281 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Caples Crest–Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail Loop, 10 sights
13 mi · ▲ 3,281 ft · 5 hr 58 min
Elevation 7,808–9,550 ft
Loop · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: Kirkwood Meadows Road · 38.68339, -120.06855
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 78°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Kirkwood Meadows Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Robey Wolfe, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Solitude, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cutback, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Hole 'N Wall, heading NW.
- 0.2 miReach Robey Wolfe, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Dangberg Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Sentinels Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Thunder Mountain Loop, heading SW.
- 3.1 miTurn left onto Silver Lake-Horse Canyon Trail, heading SW.
- 2.2 miTurn left onto Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail, heading SE.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Whiskey Shots, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Caples Crest, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Whiskey, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear left onto Snowkirk, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Robey Wolfe, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Snowkirk, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Scouts Route, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Snowkirk, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Kirkwood Meadows Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miThe loop closes 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 3.8 mi in (~148 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Kirkwood Meadows Road Trailhead
- Hole 'N Wall & Robey Wolfe via Solitude 2.5 mi · ▲ 611 ft
- Robey Wolfe & Solitude 2.8 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Dangberg Trail & Robey Wolfe via Solitude 3.4 mi · ▲ 632 ft
- Castle Point Trail–Dangberg Trail, 5 sights 15.7 mi · ▲ 3,391 ft
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