AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Johnson Canyon

Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 3,003 ft · 6 hr 2 min

Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Johnson Canyon near Donner Lake Village, CA. The route passes Summit Lake and Castle Pass before reaching Castle Peak at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 3,003 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,405 – 9,075 ft · steepest grade: 35%14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wendin Way Access Trail 39.33343, -120.29061
Nearest town Donner Lake Village, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 3,003 ft · 6 hr 2 min

Elevation 6,403–9,074 ft

Out & Back · Johnson Canyon

Trailhead: Wendin Way Access Trail · 39.33343, -120.29061

Weather Sep 21: Overcast, high 73°F / low 50° · precip 6% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Lake Road, heading N.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Road, heading SW.
  7. 0.7 miBear left, heading W.
  8. 0.4 miPass Summit Lake.
  9. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading NW.
  12. 1.5 miTurn left onto Castle Valley East OHV Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
  14. 1.2 miPass Castle Pass.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto Castle Peak Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
  20. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  21. 0.3 miReach Castle Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  24. 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 0.4 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
  27. 1.2 miTurn left onto Castle Valley East OHV Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading E.
  29. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Summit Lake Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Lake Road, heading NE.
  32. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  33. 0.7 miBear left, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading SE.
  35. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Summit Lake Road, heading SE.
  36. 0.8 miBear right, heading NW.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/castle-peak-summit-lake-out-back-4-lakes-22-km-8098

Trail surface

81% dirt19% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 73°F50°
Precip6%Wind12 mphUV6Humidity34%
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:01 PM
Tue 70°50°
Wed 76°49°
Thu 73°46°
Fri 67°42°
Sat 70°41°
Sun 65°38°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.5 mi in (~174 min). Leave by 3:48 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Wendin Way Access Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Donner Lake Village, California