Wheeler Lake–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,529 ft · 5 hr 24 min
Wheeler Lake–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Cape Horn, CA. The route reaches Wheeler Lake at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 2,529 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Wheeler Lake–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,529 ft · 5 hr 24 min
Elevation 7,650–8,798 ft
Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: Emigrant Trail · 38.50593, -119.94296
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 77°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:09 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Emigrant Trail, heading SW.
- 1.8 miBear left onto Cape Horn Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Lower Woodchuck Trail, heading NW.
- 2 miTurn right onto Wheeler Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miReach Wheeler Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Woodchuck Trail, heading SW.
- 2.7 miBear left onto Cape Horn Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
- 1.8 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.0 mi in (~162 min). Leave by 5:07 PM for the 8:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Emigrant Trail Trailhead
- Mosquito Lake–Heiser Lake Trail, 3 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 377 ft
- Cape Horn Trail & Emigrant Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 465 ft
- Heiser Lake–Heiser Lake Trail Extension, 3 sights 7.7 mi · ▲ 1,525 ft
- Bull Run Lake & Bull Run Lake Trail 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,360 ft
- Mosquito Lake–MCCT Mosquito Lakes to Pacific Valley, 6 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 1,850 ft
- Cape Horn Trail–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,537 ft
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