Andesite Peak–West Lakes, 3 summits is a 5.8-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes West Lakes and Castle Pass before reaching Andesite Peak at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 946 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi7,238 – 8,212 ft · steepest grade: 20%6.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector 39.34271, -120.33969
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Andesite Peak–West Lakes, 3 summits
5.8 mi · ▲ 946 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Elevation 7,238–8,213 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector · 39.34271, -120.33969
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rest Area Access Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Castle Pass.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Hole in the Ground, heading S.
- 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.
- 250 ftBear right onto Rest Area Access Connector, heading NE.
- 150 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
14% dirt86% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~76 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 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 Rest Area Access Connector Trailhead
- Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes 16.2 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft
- West Lakes & Castle Pass via Pacific Crest Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Summit Lake–West Lakes, 8 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 2,544 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes 10 mi · ▲ 1,262 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 7 lakes 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,923 ft
- German Ridge–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 7.5 mi · ▲ 870 ft
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