AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Royal Gorge

Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 6 sights

11.9 mi · ▲ 1,307 ft · 4 hr 37 min

Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 6 sights is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Royal Gorge near Donner, CA. The route passes Serene Lakes before reaching Lyle's Lookout at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,307 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,779 – 7,195 ft · steepest grade: 33%12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31681, -120.33058
Nearest town Donner, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lyle's Lookout–Serene Lakes, 6 sights

11.9 mi · ▲ 1,307 ft · 4 hr 37 min

Elevation 6,779–7,197 ft

Out & Back · Royal Gorge

Trailhead: 39.31681, -120.33058

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 80°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 1.5 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading SE.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Nose Dive, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 300 ftTurn right onto Ana's Chute, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Nose Dive, heading SW.
  8. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Claim Jumper Bike Route, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miBear left onto Aster, heading W.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Claim Jumper Bike Route, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miBear right onto Claim Jumper, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miBear right onto Switchback, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SW.
  16. 100 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading S.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading S.
  18. 50 ftPass Serene Lakes.
  19. 250 ftContinue straight onto Reindeer, heading SW.
  20. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  23. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miReach Lyle's Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  28. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  29. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Switchback, heading SE.
  31. 300 ftContinue straight onto Tiny Tim, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Switchback, heading SE.
  33. 100 ftBear right onto Rowton Peak Trail, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftBear left onto Switchback, heading SE.
  35. 0.4 miBear left onto Claim Jumper, heading NE.
  36. 0.4 miBear left onto Claim Jumper Bike Route, heading NE.
  37. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Aster, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftBear right onto Claim Jumper Bike Route, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left onto Nose Dive, heading E.
  41. 200 ftBear left onto Ana's Chute, heading E.
  42. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  43. 300 ftBear right onto Nose Dive, heading E.
  44. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bill Patterson, heading NE.
  45. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  46. 0.6 miSharp right, heading SE.
  47. 1.3 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/lyles-lookout-out-back-19-km

Trail surface

68% dirt32% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 80°F51°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 82°59°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°54°
Fri 85°55°
Sat 85°56°
Sun 86°54°

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Donner, California