Echo to Kirkwood Tour

Echo to Kirkwood Tour

Hilly touring terrain

13 miles in 1 day

Cumulative gain, loss: +2500', -2300'

Avg. Relief: 300'/mile

Topos: Fallen Leaf Lake, Silver Lake (15'); Echo Lake, Caples Lake (7.5')


	Bob & Cathy on a fast day in 1999

The best time to do this tour is during the annual Echo To Kirkwood XC Ski Race, which takes place on around the third Saturday in March. This race (a benefit for El Dorado Nordic Ski Patrol) is one of a kind, a true ski touring race. No need to worry about arranging a car shuttle, leave the map and compass in the car, just show up and ski real fast for a couple of hours (or ski at your normal pace; plenty of regular ski-touring folks attend this event). For more info on the Echo to Kirkwood, call 916-647-1825 during winter months, or click here.

At times other than race day, you can get to the north portion of this tour by parking at the Echo Summit Sno-Park area (a Sno-Park permit is required; 916-653-8569), which is just south of US 50 at Echo Summit. The Kirkwood end of the Echo To Kirkwood route is on the groomed trails system of Kirkwood Nordic (209-258-6000; on the north side of Hwy 88 near the gas station east of the turnoff for the Kirkwood downhill resort). A trail pass is required for parking and/or use of the Kirkwood Nordic trails.

The tour's average elevation is a moderately high 8300', so it should usually stay good through at least March.

Accounts of our 3/95 and 3/98 Echo to Kirkwood races.

General info and disclaimer about backcountry skiing

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