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 Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 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 3:59 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:31 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
- Bear Valley to Lake Alpine Trail–Cape Horn Trail, 4 sights 14.6 mi · ▲ 1,945 ft
- Cape Horn Trail–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,537 ft
- Rock Lake–Duck Lake Bypass Trail, 3 sights 14.6 mi · ▲ 2,105 ft
- Summit Lake–Elephant Rock Lake, 6 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 2,118 ft
- Mosquito Lake–MCCT Mosquito Lakes to Pacific Valley, 6 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 1,850 ft
- Cape Horn Trail & Emigrant Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 465 ft
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Hikes near Cape Horn, California