AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Donner Lake as seen from Donner Pass.jpg
Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0
Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Lake–Lake Angela, 4 lakes

10.1 mi · ▲ 2,313 ft · 4 hr 31 min

Donner Lake–Lake Angela, 4 lakes is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Donner, CA. The route passes Chinese Catfish Pond and Lake Angela before reaching Donner Lake at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 2,313 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,994 – 7,267 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31854, -120.32947
Nearest town Donner, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Donner Lake–Lake Angela, 4 lakes

10.1 mi · ▲ 2,313 ft · 4 hr 31 min

Elevation 5,993–7,267 ft

Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park

Trailhead: 39.31854, -120.32947

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 80°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 150 ftTurn right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading E.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  4. 0.3 miSharp right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
  6. 50 ftPass Lake Angela.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  12. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  14. 450 ftContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading E.
  15. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  17. 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.7 miBear left, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Lakeview Canyon Road, heading NE.
  21. 1.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  22. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  23. 0.5 miReach Donner Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  25. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  26. 1.6 miBear left, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  28. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  29. 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
  30. 200 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading W.
  33. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  34. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NW.
  36. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  37. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  38. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  39. 0.1 miBear left onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading S.
  40. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  41. 0.3 miBear right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 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/donner-lake-out-back-15-km-f089

Trail surface

78% dirt17% gravel1% paved4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 80°F51°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°54°
Fri 85°55°
Sat 85°56°
Sun 86°54°

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Donner, California