Caples Lake Marker

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Near Kirkwood in Alpine County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Caples Lake

By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 22, 2008

1. Caples Lake Marker

Inscription. In 1849 Dr. James Caples passed through here on his way to California’s gold country.

After a brief stay in Old Hangtown (Placerville) Caples remembered the lake and returned here with his family to establish a way station that served weary travelers for thirty years.

The lake known variously as Summit Lake, Clear Lake, and Twin Lakes, is two miles long and has a surface area of 600 acres.

Dedicated by the Historical Society of Alpine County.

Erected by Historical Society of Alpine County.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Markers with Artwork marker series.

Location. 38° 42.204′ N, 120° 3.305′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, California, in Alpine County. Marker is on Carson Pass Highway (State Highway 88), on the right when traveling east. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kirkwood CA 95646, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Kirkwood's (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Emigrant Road (approx. 1 miles away); Naming of Carson Pass (approx. 3.7 miles away); Snowshoe Thom(p)son (approx. 3.7 miles away); Kit Carson (approx. 3.7 miles away); Memorial to Pioneer Odd Fellows (approx. 3.7 miles away); First Summit (approx. 3.8 miles away); Plasse’s Trading Post (approx. 6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Kirkwood.

View of Caples Lake from Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 22, 2008

2. View of Caples Lake from Marker

Here the water level in the lake is somewhat lower than normal, as in August 2008 the El Dorado Irrigation District (owner of the lake) was in the process of lowering the lake in order to repair some of the dam-related infrastructure. Close inspection of the picture just above the lower waterline reveals a number of tree stumps, indicating the historical forestation prior to damming.

Regarding Caples Lake. Born in Ohio in 1823, James Caples migrated from Missouri with his wife to California by wagon in 1849. After a short period as a storekeeper in Placerville selling provisions to miners, he and his family settled on a 4,000 acre ranch that included the area covered by Caples Lake. The waystation mentioned on the marker would have only been open several months each year, given the 7,900 ft. elevation of the location.

Prior to damming, much of the area covered by the lake was a meadow. The Emigrant Trail ran through this meadow a short ways east of this marker.

Also see . . . Biography of James Caples. A biography of Dr. James Caples, excerpted from "An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California", pp. 700-702, by the Honorable Win. J. Davis, 1890. (Submitted on September 4, 2008.)

Credits. This page originally submitted on September 4, 2008, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 1,754 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2008, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.