8.7 miles
Distance
1,362 ft
Climb
-1,359 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
3 ft
Altitude change
5,591 ft
Altitude min
5,591 ft
Altitude start
5,594 ft
Altitude end
-50.2%
Grade max
84.4%
Grade min
4 miles
Distance climb
4 miles
Distance down
2,657 ft
Distance flat

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Detailed Description
Caples Creek Loop is a 9 mile less popular expert route located near Kirkwood California. This hike only route and has a moderate overall physical rating. This route includes 7 trails. This route climbs 1,362 ft with a max elevation of 6,817 ft then descends -1,359 ft.
Tags
AlpineRiver or creek

Trail Issues on Route

  • Closed: 4 trails (newest: Aug 21, 2021)
  • Significant Issue / Amber: 1 trail (newest: May 7, 2021)
  • Minor Issue / Yellow: 1 trail (newest: Jul 26, 2025)

Local Trail Association

Local trail association
Mother Lode Trail Stewardship (motherlodestewardship.org)
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Stats

  • Distance
    9 miles
  • Avg time
    3 hr 46 min
  • Altitude min
    5,591 ft
  • Altitude start
    5,591 ft
  • Altitude end
    5,594 ft
  • Climb
    1,362 ft
  • Descent
    -1,359 ft
  • Grade max
    -50.2%
  • Grade min
    84.4%
  • Distance climb
    4 miles
  • Distance down
    4 miles
  • Distance flat
    2,657 ft

7 Reviews & Comments


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Trails in Route

Details

  • Riding area
    Caples Creek
  • Primary Activity
    Hike
  • Difficulty rating
    Black Diamond
  • Route Type
    Loop
  • Physical rating
    Moderate

Directions

  1. Walk east on Caples Spur Road.
  2. Continue for 2 kilometers.
  3. Bear left onto Caples Creek Trail (Middle).
  4. Continue for 3 kilometers.
  5. Bear right onto Government Meadow Trail.
  6. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  7. Turn left onto Old Silver Lake Trail.
  8. Continue for 900 meters.
  9. Bear right onto Silver Fork Trail.
  10. Continue for 4 kilometers.
  11. Turn left onto Caples Creek Trail (Lower).
  12. Continue for 2 kilometers.
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Trail transparency
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  • Singletrack
  • Unpaved

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Caples Creek Trail (Middle)
Jul 26, 2025 @ 10:16pm
Jul 26, 2025
only one tree down, near the hay flat trail intersection. The trail is overgrown in certain sections, it does need a trim. It's such a great trail, it needs some love.
Government Meadow Trail
May 7, 2021 @ 7:28am
May 7, 2021
Couldn't even make it to the river there were so many trees down. Lots of snags still standing too.
Silver Fork Trail
Jun 30, 2020 @ 1:35pm
Jun 30, 2020
Riding good, I would say 3 to 4 downed trees, the fire did some damage to some of the rock garden sections but all rideable just got to choose a line. The top sections is a very wide fire road now looks like either from the fire or logging, still fun. Link this in with Thunder Mtn for a long descent.
more reports »

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