Wheeler Lake–Bee Gulch Trail, 5 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 3,923 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Wheeler Lake–Bee Gulch Trail, 5 sights is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Lake Alpine, CA. The route reaches Wheeler Lake at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 3,923 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Wheeler Lake–Bee Gulch Trail, 5 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 3,923 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Elevation 7,435–8,798 ft
Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: Silvertip Campground Road · 38.48161, -120.01782
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 79°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Silvertip Campground Road, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Osborne Ridge Trail Connector, heading E.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Bee Gulch Trail, heading E.
- 1.5 miSharp left, heading W.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 300 ftBear left onto Pack Trail, heading N.
- 2.3 miBear left onto Wheeler Lake Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miReach Wheeler Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miBear right onto Pack Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miBear right, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp right onto Bee Gulch Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Osborne Ridge Trail Connector, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Lake Alpine to Silver tip Path, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Silvertip Campground Road, heading N.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.8 mi in (~204 min). Leave by 4:25 PM for the 8:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Silvertip Campground Road Trailhead
- Emigrant Trail & Osborne Ridge Trail Loop via Bear Valley to Lake Alpine Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 615 ft
- Lake Alpine–Bee Gulch Trail, 4 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 429 ft
- Granite Slab Trail & Lodgepole via Powerline 4.3 mi · ▲ 457 ft
- Bear Valley to Lake Alpine Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 537 ft
- Lake Alpine to Silver tip Path–Lower Woodchuck Trail, 3 sights 7.7 mi · ▲ 935 ft
- Poison Canyon–Bee Gulch Trail, 4 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 2,235 ft
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