Signal Hill–Lake Angela, 9 lakes is an 11.3-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes, Azalea Lake, Flora Lake and 3 more before reaching Signal Hill at the turnaround, 5.6 miles in. It climbs 1,390 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi7,071 – 7,635 ft · steepest grade: 15%11.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Castle Valley North Road 39.34100, -120.34760
Nearest town Norden, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Signal Hill–Lake Angela, 9 lakes
11.3 mi · ▲ 1,390 ft · 4 hr 28 min
Elevation 7,071–7,636 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Castle Valley North Road · 39.34100, -120.34760
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Castle Valley North Road, heading NW.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Castle Valley East OHV Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miPass West Lakes.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 1 miBear right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Azalea Lake.
- 50 ftPass Flora Lake.
- 0.6 miPass Lake Angela.
- 250 ftPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 0.2 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading SW.
- 1 miReach Signal Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Summit Lake Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Castle Valley East OHV Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Castle Valley North Road, heading N.
- 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
67% dirt33% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.6 mi in (~161 min). Leave by 4:02 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Castle Valley North Road Trailhead
- Lily Pond–Castle Valley East OHV Trail, 5 sights 15.8 mi · ▲ 2,183 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–Castle Valley North Road, 3 sights 10.2 mi · ▲ 1,551 ft
- Snowshed East Face–Snowshed, 11 lakes 10.6 mi · ▲ 1,177 ft
- Red Mountain–Castle Valley East OHV Trail, 7 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 4,018 ft
- West Lakes–Castle Valley East OHV Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 361 ft
- Warren Lake–Castle Peak Trail, 5 sights 13.8 mi · ▲ 3,858 ft
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