Name: Emigrant Trail
Rating: 4.3

Toolbox

Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs Off-leash

Shared By:

Hiking Project Staff

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.3 from 6 votes

#5

in Kirkwood

#9010

Overall

4.3 from 6 votes

5 Star		67%
4 Star		17%
3 Star		0%
2 Star		17%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#5

in Kirkwood

#770

in California

#9,010

Overall

5 Views Last Month

1,998 Since Aug 13, 2015

		0%
		0%
		57%
		29%
		14%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

Oct 3, 2017 near South L…, CA

Jul 7, 2016 near South L…, CA

Oct 3, 2017 near South L…, CA

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 5 days ago

Update Conditions See History

Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 9, 2026

Kenneth Laws

Beautiful trail, nicely pitched, lots of shade for the whole length. Almost no switchbacks. Great lake and forest views. The lake is very pretty. 8mi

Jun 23, 2018

Brandon Morton

Gorgeous hike from the dam at Caples Lake up Emigrant Creek to Emigrant Lake. There's still a good amount of snow on the backside of the lake at th… 8.2mi

Oct 3, 2017

Tim Roide

8.5mi — 3h 30m

Nearby Recommended Routes

Big Meadow, heading north back towards the trailhead

Big Meadow Trailhead to Dardanelles Lake

7.7 mi 12.4 km • 1,309' Up 398.93 m Up • 1,309' Down 398.88 m Down

South L…, CA

Coming up the trail about 2/3 the way to Lovers Leap. Looking north across highway 50 towards horse tail falls.

Lovers Leap Out-and-Back

2.4 mi 3.9 km • 456' Up 138.92 m Up • 455' Down 138.79 m Down

South L…, CA

Love Mt. Ralston, 90% dirt trail, lots of shade, well marked and maintained route. Lots of back for the buck on this hike a surprisingly spectacular view. You won't be disappointed.

Ralston Peak

5.7 mi 9.1 km • 2,560' Up 780.34 m Up • 2,560' Down 780.18 m Down

South L…, CA

PCT: Echo Lake to Interstate 80 (Donner Summit)

65.2 mi 104.9 km • 9,230' Up 2813.17 m Up • 9,462' Down 2884.04 m Down

South L…, CA

Stream crossings during extremely high water level period. Waterfall flowed down from Peak 8417 and flooded forest.

Horsetail Falls

3.3 mi 5.3 km • 646' Up 196.81 m Up • 645' Down 196.71 m Down

South L…, CA

Lake Tahoe from the summit of Freel Peak.

Freel Peak via Horse Meadows

9.2 mi 14.8 km • 2,429' Up 740.44 m Up • 2,427' Down 739.82 m Down

South L…, CA

Your Rating:
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites:	Add To-Do · Your List

Emigrant Trail

4.1

6.7

Point to Point

8,599' 2,621 m

7,811' 2,381 m

816' 249 m

29' 9 m

4%

12%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Off-leash

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#5

#9010

#5

#770

#9,010

Photos

0 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Big Meadow Trailhead to Dardanelles Lake

Lovers Leap Out-and-Back

Ralston Peak

PCT: Echo Lake to Interstate 80 (Donner Summit)

Horsetail Falls

Freel Peak via Horse Meadows

Join the Community! It's FREE