AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Cushing–High Camp Loop Trail, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,929 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Lake Cushing–High Camp Loop Trail, 3 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back near Alpine Meadows, CA. The route reaches Lake Cushing. It climbs 1,929 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,257 – 8,153 ft · steepest grade: 26%6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Thunder Mountain Trail 39.19498, -120.23631
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Cushing–High Camp Loop Trail, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,929 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Elevation 6,256–8,155 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Thunder Mountain Trail · 39.19498, -120.23631

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Cushing.
  3. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  5. 100 ftSharp right, heading E.
  6. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NW.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  13. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  16. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right onto High Camp Loop Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  19. 50 ftReach Lake Cushing, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  25. 0.1 miBear right onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  26. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  30. 0.7 miBear left, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  32. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  33. 100 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  34. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftArrive 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/thunder-mountain-trail-thunder-mountain-trail-out-back-8-km

Trail surface

33% dirt3% gravel64% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California