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