AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Donner Lake as seen from Donner Pass.jpg
Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0
Donner Memorial State Park

German Ridge–Lake Angela, 4 lakes

12.4 mi · ▲ 2,533 ft · 5 hr 24 min

German Ridge–Lake Angela, 4 lakes is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Southside Highlands, CA. The route passes Chinese Catfish Pond and Lake Angela before reaching German Ridge at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 2,533 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,191 – 7,323 ft · steepest grade: 19%13.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31417, -120.27135
Nearest town Southside Highlands, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

German Ridge–Lake Angela, 4 lakes

12.4 mi · ▲ 2,533 ft · 5 hr 24 min

Elevation 6,191–7,322 ft

Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park

Trailhead: 39.31417, -120.27135

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 86°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.7 miBear left onto Lakeview Canyon Road, heading SW.
  3. 1.4 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
  7. 200 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
  16. 500 ftBear left onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
  18. 50 ftPass Lake Angela.
  19. 500 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  20. 0.3 miBear right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading SW.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.6 miReach German Ridge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  24. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  25. 0.3 miSharp right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading E.
  26. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  27. 0.1 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading E.
  30. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  33. 500 ftContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading SW.
  34. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  35. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  36. 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
  37. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  38. 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Lakeview Canyon Road, heading S.
  40. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  41. 0.5 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/german-ridge-lake-angela-out-back-5-lakes-19-km

Trail surface

82% dirt14% gravel1% paved3% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 86°F51°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
90°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 86°60°
Wed 86°57°
Thu 89°57°
Fri 89°57°
Sat 90°58°
Sun 90°55°

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