Johnson Canyon

Billie Mack Road–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,912 ft · 4 hr 9 min

Billie Mack Road–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Johnson Canyon near Lakeview, CA. It climbs 1,912 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,742 – 7,819 ft · steepest grade: 21%10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Glacier Way Trail 39.34323, -120.26836
Nearest town Lakeview, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Billie Mack Road–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,912 ft · 4 hr 9 min

Elevation 6,741–7,819 ft

Out & Back · Johnson Canyon

Trailhead: Glacier Way Trail · 39.34323, -120.26836

Weather Sep 20: Overcast, high 68°F / low 45° · precip 2% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Glacier Way Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.7 miBear right onto Far Side, heading NW.
  3. 1.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading W.
  4. 1.5 miTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Gatson Road, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miBear right onto Summit Lake Road, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left onto Billie Mack Road, heading NW.
  9. 0.7 miReach Glacier Way Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.7 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Road, heading N.
  11. 0.5 miBear left onto West Gatson Road, heading NW.
  12. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading E.
  15. 1.5 miTurn left onto Far Side, heading SE.
  16. 1.1 miBear left onto Glacier Way Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

90% dirt10% gravel

Weather

OvercastTemperature 68°F45°
Precip2%Wind10 mphUV6Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
70°45°
Sunrise 6:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:03 PM
Mon 70°50°
Tue 73°45°
Wed 73°43°
Thu 69°44°
Fri 68°40°
Sat 69°39°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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