Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints is a 10.5-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes Donner Pass, Petroglyph Cliff and Pacific Crest Viewpoint before reaching Mount Judah Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.3 miles in. It climbs 1,277 ft. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi6,779 – 7,638 ft11.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.30701, -120.33763
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints
10.5 mi · ▲ 1,277 ft · 4 hr 8 min
Elevation 6,779–7,640 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.30701, -120.33763
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bill Patterson, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1.9 miPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Mount Judah Loop, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftReach Mount Judah Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading SE.
- 1.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 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
24% dirt10% gravel66% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 81°F51°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity19%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
82°60°
Wed
82°55°
Thu
85°55°
Fri
86°56°
Sat
86°56°
Sun
87°54°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~150 min). Leave by 5:23 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Bill Patterson 2.1 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Bill Patterson 2.3 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Lake Mary 2.6 mi · ▲ 467 ft
- Ana's Chute & Nose Dive 4.3 mi · ▲ 610 ft
- Pine Marten 4.8 mi · ▲ 202 ft
- Mount Lincoln Viewpoint–Roller Pass Loop, 4 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 1,386 ft
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