Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes is a 16.2-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes West Lakes and Castle Pass before reaching Lily Pond at the turnaround, 8.1 miles in. It climbs 2,130 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,238 – 7,983 ft · steepest grade: 17%16.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector 39.34271, -120.33969
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes
16.2 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft · 6 hr 28 min
Elevation 7,238–7,984 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector · 39.34271, -120.33969
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 80°F / low 59° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rest Area Access Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miPass Castle Pass.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Sand Ridge Lake Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Hole in the Ground, heading W.
- 2.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 1.6 miReach Lily Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.6 miSharp left, heading E.
- 2.8 miTurn left onto Sand Ridge Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right onto Rest Area Access Connector, heading E.
- 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
60% dirt40% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 80°F59°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Wed
80°54°
Thu
85°54°
Fri
86°55°
Sat
86°56°
Sun
85°54°
Mon
83°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:31 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
- Summit Lake & West Lakes via Summit Lake Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 230 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 6 lakes 4.6 mi · ▲ 323 ft
- West Lakes & Castle Pass via Pacific Crest Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Mount Stephens–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 406 ft
- Goldilocks Wall–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 5.7 mi · ▲ 437 ft
- Andesite Peak–West Lakes, 3 summits 5.8 mi · ▲ 946 ft
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