Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 3 summits is a 4.2-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes Donner Peak before reaching Donner Peak Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 1,068 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi6,916 – 7,999 ft · steepest grade: 25%4.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.30697, -120.33522
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 3 summits
4.2 mi · ▲ 1,068 ft · 1 hr 56 min
Elevation 6,915–7,998 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.30697, -120.33522
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Sugarbowl Village Path, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mount Judah Loop, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Emigrant Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Peak Spur, heading SE.
- 0.1 miPass Donner Peak Viewpoint.
- 50 ftReach Donner Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Emigrant Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Mount Judah Loop, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 400 ftTurn 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
93% dirt7% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Lake Angela, 9 lakes 12.7 mi · ▲ 1,843 ft
- Frog Lake Overlook–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 lakes 14.9 mi · ▲ 3,047 ft
- Tinker Knob–Mount Lincoln Viewpoint, 3 summits 13.6 mi · ▲ 3,253 ft
- Crest Divide Road–Emigrant Trail, 3 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,086 ft
- Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 6 cliffs 9.1 mi · ▲ 2,224 ft
- Tunnel Rock–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 3 cliffs 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,344 ft
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Hikes near Donner, California