Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 11 lakes is a 9.5-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes, Azalea Lake, Flora Lake and 5 more before reaching Donner Peak Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,487 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi7,015 – 7,999 ft · steepest grade: 23%10.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.33959, -120.34302
Nearest town Norden, CA
Directions
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Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 11 lakes
9.5 mi · ▲ 1,487 ft · 3 hr 55 min
Elevation 7,015–7,998 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.33959, -120.34302
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 79°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Azalea Lake.
- 50 ftPass Flora Lake.
- 0.6 miPass Lake Angela.
- 250 ftPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 0.2 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Mount Judah Loop, heading S.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Peak Spur, heading SE.
- 450 ftPass Donner Peak Viewpoint.
- 350 ftReach Donner Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Mount Judah Loop, heading E.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 500 ftBear left onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 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
59% dirt4% rock37% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 79°F52°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity28%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
80°60°
Wed
80°54°
Thu
84°54°
Fri
84°55°
Sat
85°55°
Sun
86°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~116 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Summit Lake & West Lakes via Pacific Crest Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 316 ft
- West Lakes via Pacific Crest Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 425 ft
- West Lakes & Donner Lake Rim Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 399 ft
- Tunnel Rock–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 6.2 mi · ▲ 727 ft
- Frog Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 2,762 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes 12.2 mi · ▲ 1,456 ft
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Hikes near Norden, California