Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 3 cliffs is a 4.5-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes Donner Pass and Petroglyph Cliff. It climbs 484 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi6,897 – 7,116 ft · steepest grade: 19%4.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31738, -120.35445
Nearest town Norden, CA
Directions
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Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 3 cliffs
4.5 mi · ▲ 484 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 6,895–7,116 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.31738, -120.35445
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 1.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Petroglyph Cliff, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftBear left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading W.
- 1.7 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 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
21% gravel19% dirt60% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:41 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Bill Patterson 4.4 mi · ▲ 294 ft
- Bill Patterson 3.7 mi · ▲ 292 ft
- Timberline via Summit Connection 4.7 mi · ▲ 382 ft
- Serene Lakes–Ana's Chute, 6 sights 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,143 ft
- Kilborn Lake–Ana's Chute, 5 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft
- Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 7 sights 8 mi · ▲ 1,402 ft
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Hikes near Norden, California