German Ridge via Ski Ranch Lane is a 2.2-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route reaches German Ridge at the turnaround, 1.1 miles in. It climbs 328 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi7,071 – 7,323 ft · steepest grade: 19%2.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31854, -120.32947
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
German Ridge via Ski Ranch Lane
2.2 mi · ▲ 328 ft · 54 min
Elevation 7,070–7,322 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.31854, -120.32947
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading NW.
- 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 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 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
97% dirt3% paved
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 4 sights 10.7 mi · ▲ 2,386 ft
- Bill Patterson 6.8 mi · ▲ 258 ft
- Bill Patterson 6.1 mi · ▲ 315 ft
- Tinker Knob–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 6 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 2,868 ft
- Andesite Peak–Lake Angela, 8 lakes 11.1 mi · ▲ 1,402 ft
- Donner Summit Lakes Trail–Hewlett Road, 3 sights 9.6 mi · ▲ 2,127 ft
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