Red Mountain–West Lakes, 5 sights is a 14.4-mile out-and-back in Red Mountain near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes before reaching Red Mountain at the turnaround, 7.2 miles in. It climbs 3,988 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,136 – 8,550 ft · steepest grade: 21%14.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.33959, -120.34302
Nearest town Norden, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Red Mountain–West Lakes, 5 sights
14.4 mi · ▲ 3,988 ft · 6 hr 48 min
Elevation 7,135–8,550 ft
Out & Back · Red Mountain
Trailhead: 39.33959, -120.34302
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading N.
- 1.9 miTurn right onto Red Dot Trail, heading N.
- 1.4 miBear left onto Frog Lake Road, heading SE.
- 1 miTurn left onto Crabtree Road, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach Red Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Frog Lake Road, heading S.
- 1 miBear right onto Red Dot Trail, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading N.
- 1.9 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.3 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
87% dirt2% rock11% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~118 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Summit Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights 13.9 mi · ▲ 1,939 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes 12.2 mi · ▲ 1,456 ft
- West Lakes via Pacific Crest Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 425 ft
- East Mustang Sally Viewpoint–West Lakes, 6 sights 14.6 mi · ▲ 3,771 ft
- Summit Lake & West Lakes via Pacific Crest Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 316 ft
- Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 11 lakes 9.5 mi · ▲ 1,487 ft
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Hikes near Norden, California