Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints is a 4.1-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, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 911 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mount Judah Viewpoint–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints
4.1 mi · ▲ 911 ft · 1 hr 49 min
Elevation 6,962–7,640 ft
Out & Back
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
- Start on Tunnel #6, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Mount Judah Loop, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftReach Mount Judah Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading W.
- 0.4 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:18 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
- Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 3 cliffs 1.2 mi · ▲ 264 ft
- Mount Stephens–Lake Angela, 3 lakes 1.3 mi · ▲ 150 ft
- Goldilocks Wall–Lake Angela, 3 lakes 1.8 mi · ▲ 261 ft
- Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 3 cliffs 1.9 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Tunnel Rock & Donner Summit Lakes Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 491 ft
- German Ridge via Ski Ranch Lane 2.2 mi · ▲ 328 ft
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