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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Thunder Mountain, Silver Lake

Hike

Thunder Mountain

Summits Thunder Mountain
Inside Eldorado National Forest
2,414 ft of climbing

9.5 mi out & back · 2,414 ft gain · 9,398 ft high point · Hard

Via Silver Lake - Horse Canyon and the Thunder Mountain Loop (4.2 mi)

In Eldorado National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

This 9.5-mile out-and-back trail via Silver Lake - Horse Canyon reaches Thunder Mountain in Eldorado National Forest.

Elevation

2,414 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

2.4 mi from the trailhead
Kirkwood Campground
Campground

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

11 mi from you
Ralston Peak
- Summits Ralston Peak
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 3,211 ft of climbing
7.2 mi out & back · 3,211 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Out: 2,240 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Thunder MountainDestination · 4.7 mi in
Silver LakeNearby · 0.6 mi in
Glove RockNearby · 4.1 mi in

Nearby reading

Thunder Mountain (Amador County, California)

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 9.5 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 2,414 ft round trip
High point: 9,398 ft
Low point: 7,152 ft
Difficulty: HardFrom 9.5 mi and 2,414 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 20
Trailhead: 38.6793° N · 120.1150° W

Get directions Open the map

3.8 mi from the trailhead

Caples Lake Campground

Campground

3.8 mi from the trailhead

Caples Lake Resort

Cabin & lookout

16 mi from you

Mt. Tallac Trail

Summits Mount Tallac
Inside Eldorado National Forest
3,355 ft of climbing

8.9 mi out & back · 3,355 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Floating Island Trail

Ends at Gilmore Lake
Inside Eldorado National Forest
4,347 ft of climbing

11.7 mi out & back · 4,347 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Glen Alpine

Ends at Modjeska Falls
Inside Eldorado National Forest
5,990 ft of climbing

18.2 mi out & back · 5,990 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

Pacific Crest Trail

Ends at Carson Pass
Inside Desolation Wilderness
6,912 ft of climbing

31.1 mi one way · 6,912 ft gain · Very hard

Desolation Wilderness · Camp 6 mi away

Lake of the Woods

Ends at Ropi Lake
Inside Eldorado National Forest
2,576 ft of climbing

13.4 mi out & back · 2,576 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Thunder Mountain Loop
- Passes Glove Rock
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 3,983 ft of climbing
15.0 mi out & back · 3,983 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 2 mi away
Cowboy Hat Trail
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 4,478 ft of climbing
- Camp 4 mi away
14.7 mi out & back · 4,478 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Warr Trail
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 4,483 ft of climbing
- Camp 4 mi away
14.8 mi out & back · 4,483 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Bald Mountain Canyon
- Near Sugarloaf
- Inside Eldorado National Forest
- 5,942 ft of climbing
21.5 mi out & back · 5,942 ft gain · Very hard
Eldorado National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today51°36°Mostly Sunny
Sat56°37°Sunny
Sun52°36°Sunny
Mon49°34°Mostly Sunny
Tue52°36°Sunny
Wed52°36°Mostly Sunny
Thu45°32°Chance Light Snow

Today: Mostly Sunny · wind 3 to 12 mph ENE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain