AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Missvain · CC BY 4.0
Royal Gorge

Snowshed East Face–Snowshed, 11 cliffs

15.2 mi · ▲ 2,273 ft · 6 hr 12 min

Snowshed East Face–Snowshed, 11 cliffs is a 15.2-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Kingvale, CA. The route passes Kidd Lake, Kilborn Lake, Donner Pass and 3 more before reaching Snowshed East Face at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 2,273 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,690 – 7,333 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Kidd Lake 39.31331, -120.42682
Nearest town Kingvale, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Snowshed East Face–Snowshed, 11 cliffs

15.2 mi · ▲ 2,273 ft · 6 hr 12 min

Elevation 6,691–7,332 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: Kidd Lake · 39.31331, -120.42682

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 82°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Kidd Lake, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Kidd Lake.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftPass Kilborn Lake.
  5. 300 ftSharp right onto Palisade, heading S.
  6. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  15. 250 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading NE.
  18. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  19. 300 ftTurn right onto Switchback, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  21. 1.1 miBear left, heading E.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Nose Dive, heading E.
  23. 250 ftBear left onto Ana's Chute, heading E.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  25. 300 ftBear right onto Nose Dive, heading NE.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bill Patterson, heading NW.
  27. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 0.6 miSharp right, heading NE.
  29. 1.9 miPass Donner Pass.
  30. 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
  31. 500 ftPass Snowshed.
  32. 50 ftPass Snowshed North Face.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  35. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  36. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  37. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  39. 300 ftReach Snowshed East Face, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  40. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  41. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  42. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  43. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  46. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading E.
  47. 1.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading W.
  48. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  49. 150 ftContinue straight onto Nose Dive, heading W.
  50. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  51. 300 ftTurn right onto Ana's Chute, heading S.
  52. 0.2 miBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SE.
  53. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  55. 1.1 miTurn right onto Switchback, heading W.
  56. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  57. 300 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading W.
  58. 100 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading NW.
  59. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading NW.
  60. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  61. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  62. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  63. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  64. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  65. 0.1 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
  66. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  67. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  68. 0.1 miBear right onto Palisade, heading NW.
  69. 0.7 miSharp left, heading SW.
  70. 300 ftTurn right onto Kidd Lake, heading W.
  71. 0.4 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/tunnel-rock-petroglyph-cliff-out-back-10-sights-24-km-73c2

Trail surface

59% dirt7% gravel34% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 82°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°59°
Wed 82°58°
Thu 85°58°
Fri 86°59°
Sat 86°59°
Sun 87°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~99 min). Leave by 6:14 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Kidd Lake Trailhead

Hikes near Kingvale, California