Union Reservoir–Rock Lake, 8 sights

12.5 mi · ▲ 1,321 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Union Reservoir–Rock Lake, 8 sights is a 12.5-mile out-and-back near Lake Alpine, CA. The route passes Union Reservoir, Elephant Rock Lake, Rock Lake and Summit Lake. It climbs 1,321 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,861 – 7,435 ft · steepest grade: 26%12.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lakeshore Trail 38.42862, -119.99165
Nearest town Lake Alpine, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Union Reservoir–Rock Lake, 8 sights

12.5 mi · ▲ 1,321 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Elevation 6,861–7,434 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Lakeshore Trail · 38.42862, -119.99165

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lakeshore Trail, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Union Reservoir.
  3. 1.3 miPass Elephant Rock Lake.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 100 ftBear right onto Union Rock Lake Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading NW.
  7. 3 miSharp right onto Highland Creek Trail, heading SE.
  8. 3.5 miPass Rock Lake.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading S.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Highland Creek Trail, heading S.
  11. 1.2 miSharp right onto Bull Run Lake Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.9 miBear left, heading NW.
  13. 0.3 miPass Summit Lake.
  14. 150 ftBear right onto Forest Route 7N01, heading NW.
  15. 0.8 miTurn left onto Lakeshore Trail, heading NW.
  16. 1.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

37% dirt63% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 83°F61°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV9Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Wed 83°59°
Thu 87°59°
Fri 87°60°
Sat 87°61°
Sun 86°59°
Mon 85°58°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Lakeshore Trail Trailhead