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Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Lake–China Cove Beach, 5 beaches

5.8 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 2 hr

Donner Lake–China Cove Beach, 5 beaches is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Armstrong, CA. The route passes Donner Memorial State Park Beach, China Cove Beach and Donner Lake before reaching Donner Memorial State Park Beach at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 142 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,922 – 6,047 ft6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Truckee River Legacy Trail 39.32467, -120.23277
Nearest town Armstrong, CA
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Directions

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Donner Lake–China Cove Beach, 5 beaches

5.8 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 2 hr

Elevation 5,923–6,047 ft

Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park

Trailhead: Truckee River Legacy Trail · 39.32467, -120.23277

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Truckee River Legacy Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Donner Memorial State Park Beach.
  3. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 100 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 0.1 miBear left onto Zig-zag, heading SW.
  10. 0.7 miPass China Cove Beach.
  11. 0.1 miPass Donner Lake.
  12. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  13. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  14. 100 ftSharp right, heading N.
  15. 0.7 miPass Donner Memorial State Park Beach.
  16. 350 ftReach Donner Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.8 miSharp left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  20. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  22. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  23. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left onto Truckee River Legacy Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.4 miArrive 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/china-cove-beach-china-cove-beach-out-back-6-beaches-12-km-dea0

Trail surface

17% paved11% gravel1% dirt71% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 87°F51°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
90°50°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 87°60°
Wed 87°57°
Thu 90°57°
Fri 90°58°
Sat 90°59°
Sun 91°56°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Truckee River Legacy Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Armstrong, California