Andesite Peak–Lake Angela, 9 lakes is a 12-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes Chinese Catfish Pond, Lake Angela, Azalea Lake and 3 more before reaching Andesite Peak at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,496 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi7,015 – 8,212 ft · steepest grade: 25%12.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Donner Peak Trailhead 39.31470, -120.32727
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Andesite Peak–Lake Angela, 9 lakes
12 mi · ▲ 1,496 ft · 4 hr 45 min
Elevation 7,015–8,213 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Donner Peak Trailhead · 39.31470, -120.32727
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 50 ftPass Lake Angela.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miPass Azalea Lake.
- 50 ftPass Flora Lake.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass West Lakes.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.2 miPass Castle Pass.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Hole in the Ground, heading NW.
- 0.4 miReach Andesite Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 2.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1 miBear right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading E.
- 1.6 miBear right, heading W.
- 500 ftSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
42% dirt58% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~165 min). Leave by 3:58 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Donner Peak Trailhead Trailhead
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 10 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 1,798 ft
- Hewlett Road & Over Ridge Road via Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road 8.3 mi · ▲ 1,922 ft
- Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 5 cliffs 3.9 mi · ▲ 983 ft
- Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road 5.4 mi · ▲ 1,345 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 5 lakes 3.5 mi · ▲ 359 ft
- German Ridge–Lake Angela, 4 lakes 4.5 mi · ▲ 715 ft
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