Signal Hill–Lake Angela, 11 lakes is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Johnson Canyon near Donner Lake Village, CA. The route passes Summit Lake, Azalea Lake, Flora Lake and 4 more before reaching Lytton Lake at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 2,573 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi6,405 – 7,674 ft · steepest grade: 18%16.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Wendin Way Access Trail 39.33343, -120.29061
Nearest town Donner Lake Village, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Signal Hill–Lake Angela, 11 lakes
15.1 mi · ▲ 2,573 ft · 6 hr 19 min
Elevation 6,403–7,675 ft
Out & Back · Johnson Canyon
Trailhead: Wendin Way Access Trail · 39.33343, -120.29061
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 85°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 NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Lake Road, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Road, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miPass Summit Lake.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading S.
- 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.
- 0.9 miPass Signal Hill.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miPass Lytton Lake.
- 350 ftReach Signal Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Summit Lake Road, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Summit Lake Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, 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
90% dirt10% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 85°F51°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
85°61°
Wed
85°56°
Thu
88°56°
Fri
88°56°
Sat
89°57°
Sun
89°54°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.1 mi in (~217 min). Leave by 4:16 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Wendin Way Access Trail Trailhead
- Billie Mack Road & Summit Lake Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 755 ft
- Donner Lake Rim Trail–Summit Lake Road Loop, 3 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 870 ft
- Bergschrund Trail–Glacier Way Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,189 ft
- Summit Lake–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,075 ft
- Bergschrund Trail–Far Side Loop, 7 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,566 ft
- Drifter & Wendin Way Access Trail via Donner Lake Rim Trail 7 mi · ▲ 1,701 ft
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Hikes near Donner Lake Village, California