Emigrant Lake Trail
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.76 mi
- Elevation gain
- 919 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 919 ft
- Max elevation
- 8,547 ft
- TrailRank
- 35
- Min elevation
- 7,765 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 3 hours 29 minutes
- Time
- 5 hours 33 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2521
- Uploaded
- August 8, 2020
- Recorded
- August 2020
near Kirkwood, California (United States)
Viewed 206 times, downloaded 1 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
One of my all-time favorite hikes!
Trail surfaces consist of smooth dirt/duff, roots, rocks, granite jumbles, stream crossings and meadows.
Trail starts by following the contours along the shoreline of beautiful Caples Lake. The climb to Emigrant Lake begins at mile 2.3.
I did get a slight case of “rubber legs” a couple of times while going up as there is a fair amount of granite climbs, but nothing that requires hands & knees or “butt” climbs. Luckily, flatter trail always followed a climb which allowed my legs a quick rest time to reset.
The altitude got to me twice as I felt my heart pounding inside my ears, but taking my salt tabs (electrolytes) quickly got rid of it.
There were several downed trees that haven’t been removed but nothing you couldn’t get under, over, or around.
At mile 3.8, there is a short spur to Emigrant Creek waterfall which could actually be a place for tired hikers to “call it a hike” and turn-around or rest & wait while other hikers continue up to Emigrant Lake. But, once you’re that close to “the payoff”, I suggest gathering up your internal forces and continuing upwards. The beauty of Emigrant Lake and the granite faces surrounding it are awesome.
Coming down the trail can be harder for hikers with knee or ankle problems as the step-downs in the granite areas and downsloping trail is somewhat relentless. Wear your compression braces if you’ve got ‘em!
Trail surfaces consist of smooth dirt/duff, roots, rocks, granite jumbles, stream crossings and meadows.
Trail starts by following the contours along the shoreline of beautiful Caples Lake. The climb to Emigrant Lake begins at mile 2.3.
I did get a slight case of “rubber legs” a couple of times while going up as there is a fair amount of granite climbs, but nothing that requires hands & knees or “butt” climbs. Luckily, flatter trail always followed a climb which allowed my legs a quick rest time to reset.
The altitude got to me twice as I felt my heart pounding inside my ears, but taking my salt tabs (electrolytes) quickly got rid of it.
There were several downed trees that haven’t been removed but nothing you couldn’t get under, over, or around.
At mile 3.8, there is a short spur to Emigrant Creek waterfall which could actually be a place for tired hikers to “call it a hike” and turn-around or rest & wait while other hikers continue up to Emigrant Lake. But, once you’re that close to “the payoff”, I suggest gathering up your internal forces and continuing upwards. The beauty of Emigrant Lake and the granite faces surrounding it are awesome.
Coming down the trail can be harder for hikers with knee or ankle problems as the step-downs in the granite areas and downsloping trail is somewhat relentless. Wear your compression braces if you’ve got ‘em!
Waypoints
Information point
7,799 ft
Photo
Intersection
River
Waterfall
Car park
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