Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 5 sights is a 14-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Donner Pass and Petroglyph Cliff. It climbs 2,105 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi6,719 – 7,267 ft · steepest grade: 41%14.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Summit Connection 39.31316, -120.38663
Nearest town Soda Springs, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 5 sights
14 mi · ▲ 2,105 ft · 5 hr 43 min
Elevation 6,719–7,267 ft
Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park
Trailhead: Summit Connection · 39.31316, -120.38663
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Summit Connection, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Timberline, heading SE.
- 1.4 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1.9 miPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Over Ridge Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miReach Petroglyph Cliff, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #8, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading W.
- 1.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Timberline, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 300 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right onto Memorial Overland Emigrant Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Connection, heading W.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
41% dirt25% gravel34% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 81°F53°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
81°59°
Wed
81°55°
Thu
85°55°
Fri
85°56°
Sat
86°56°
Sun
87°54°
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
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