AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Donner Memorial State Park

Ponds Road

4.9 mi · ▲ 445 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Ponds Road is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Gateway, CA. It climbs 445 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,021 – 6,303 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: El Burro Trail 39.30945, -120.21061
Nearest town Gateway, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ponds Road

4.9 mi · ▲ 445 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 6,022–6,304 ft

Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park

Trailhead: El Burro Trail · 39.30945, -120.21061

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 86°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on El Burro Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left onto Donkey Town Connector, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 150 ftBear left onto Donner Memorial Connector Path (Washed Out), heading N.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right onto Ponds Road, heading N.
  9. 0.4 miReach Ponds Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Donner Memorial Connector Path (Washed Out), heading S.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.8 miBear right, heading E.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left onto Donkey Town Connector, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 0.7 miContinue straight onto El Burro Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/ponds-road-out-back-8-km-3ae1

Trail surface

80% dirt15% gravel5% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 86°F51°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
90°50°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 87°61°
Wed 86°57°
Thu 89°57°
Fri 89°58°
Sat 90°59°
Sun 91°56°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from El Burro Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Gateway, California