Back to index Melissa Coray and Peak 9795 Hike
Trip Date:  09/27/2013

Distance: 13.3 Miles

Vertical Gain: 2000'

Group Size: 1
Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous		 Melissa Coray Hike Route
Download GPX GPX for this trip
Melissa Coray Elevation Profile
Start Coordinates:   N 38 42.188, W 120 03.929     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates  
Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 88 to the parking area just at the west end of Caples Lake (past Kirkwood,) near the Caples Lake dam.  There is a large paved parking area here as well as restrooms.
Hazards of Note:   Rocky trail on sections of this trek.  Some route finding skills necessary toward Covered Wagon Peak.

 Crowd Factor:   Limited to none after the first two miles.   
General Notes:
From the parking area you will start along the trail and follow the edge of Caples Lake for a little over a mile and a half.  At this point you will reach a junction signpost pointing toward either Emigrant Lake or the Emigrant Trail.  You will turn right at this junction and begin a steep climb away from Caples Lake.  The forest will soon thin out and you will pass underneath some of the backside chair lifts at Kirkwood Ski Area.  Keep to your right in this area, and do not follow the path that crosses a creek on the left.  Continue to climb, and probably chase some cattle grazing at this high elevation away as you make your way toward Covered Wagon Peak.  The trail will then bend sharply south, and follow along the base of the peak and then at the end head up toward a gap on the trail.  The trail itself will then head to the west and West Pass, which you can follow or you can just continue to climb cross country toward the obvious top of Melissa Coray peak with a radio structure which is found there.   A marker also designates the name of the peak.  Continue on past the peak along the ridge, enjoying amazing views into Summit City Canyon beyond and south toward Ebbets Pass further to the south.  
Peak 9795 is on the eastern end of Emigrant Lake, and you can attain great views of the lake from this point before continuing on the eastern end of the ridge and making your way carefully down the loose scree and boulders until you find yourself at the northern outlet of Emigrant Lake.  From here it is all trail on the 4 miles back to the parking area.

Round Top and the Sisters from hike up toward Meliss Coray. Round Top behind Meadow
Weathered signpost near the top of Covered Wagon Peak. Weathered Signpost
Emigrant Trail marker high above Caples Lake. Emigrant Trail marker near the peak
Looking north toward the Machado Postpiles from high above Scout Carson Lake. Looking north toward Machado Postpiles
The Crystal Range and Pyramid Peak in the distance behind Covered Wagon Peak. Crystal Range beyond Covered Wagon Peak
Summit City Canyon from high above Scout Carson Lake. Summit City Canyon
Looking south into Summit City Canyon toward Bear Valley. More Summit City Canyon
Melissa Coray Peak marker honoring a true pioneer of the west. Melissa Coray Peak
4th of July Lake and Corrie Lochran Lakes below Peak 9795. 4th of July Lake
Emigrant Lake below Peak 9795. Emigrant Peak below Peak 9795
Emigrant Lake and Melissa Coray Peak. Emigrant Lake and Covered Wagon Peak
Emigrant Trail marker along the way. Emigrant Trail Marker
Self portrait from Melissa Coray Peak. Self Portrait
GPS Track of the full hike. GPS Track of Hike