AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Johnson Canyon

Summit Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights

13.9 mi · ▲ 1,939 ft · 5 hr 36 min

Summit Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Johnson Canyon near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes and Summit Lake. It climbs 1,939 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,880 – 7,727 ft14.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.33959, -120.34302
Nearest town Norden, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Summit Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights

13.9 mi · ▲ 1,939 ft · 5 hr 36 min

Elevation 6,880–7,725 ft

Out & Back · Johnson Canyon

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass West Lakes.
  3. 0.5 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1.1 miPass Summit Lake.
  6. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Lake Road, heading E.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 0.7 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading SE.
  11. 1.1 miTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading E.
  12. 500 ftTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading E.
  13. 1.4 miTurn left onto Willie's Wiggle, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Andromeda, heading N.
  15. 0.7 miBear left onto Hawk's Peak, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miReach Summit Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.2 miBear right onto Andromeda, heading NW.
  18. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Willie's Wiggle, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading W.
  20. 1.4 miTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading SW.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading S.
  22. 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Road, heading W.
  24. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  26. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading W.
  27. 1.2 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  28. 0.5 miSharp right, heading S.
  29. 0.3 miArrive 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/flora-lake-summit-lake-out-back-5-lakes-23-km-72eb

Trail surface

86% dirt3% rock11% 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°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Norden, California