German Ridge–Lake Angela, 7 lakes is a 7.5-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes West Lakes, Azalea Lake, Flora Lake and 3 more before reaching German Ridge at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 870 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi7,071 – 7,323 ft8.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector 39.34271, -120.33969
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
German Ridge–Lake Angela, 7 lakes
7.5 mi · ▲ 870 ft · 2 hr 56 min
Elevation 7,071–7,322 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector · 39.34271, -120.33969
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rest Area Access Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 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.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miReach German Ridge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Rest Area Access Connector, heading NW.
- 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 surface
79% dirt1% paved20% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~94 min). Leave by 5:09 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rest Area Access Connector Trailhead
- Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes 16.2 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft
- West Lakes & Castle Pass via Pacific Crest Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Summit Lake–West Lakes, 8 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 2,544 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes 10 mi · ▲ 1,262 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 7 lakes 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,923 ft
- Mount Stephens–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 406 ft
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