Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes is a 10-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes West Lakes and Castle Pass before reaching Sand Ridge Lake at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 1,262 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,238 – 7,983 ft · steepest grade: 17%10.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector 39.34271, -120.33969
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes
10 mi · ▲ 1,262 ft · 3 hr 58 min
Elevation 7,238–7,984 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector · 39.34271, -120.33969
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rest Area Access Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miPass Castle Pass.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Sand Ridge Lake Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Hole in the Ground, heading W.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Sand Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miReach Sand Ridge Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hole in the Ground, heading N.
- 1 miTurn left onto Sand Ridge Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right onto Rest Area Access Connector, heading NE.
- 150 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
35% dirt65% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rest Area Access Connector Trailhead
- Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes 16.2 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft
- West Lakes & Castle Pass via Pacific Crest Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Summit Lake–West Lakes, 8 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 2,544 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 7 lakes 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,923 ft
- German Ridge–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 7.5 mi · ▲ 870 ft
- Mount Stephens–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 406 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Donner, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Donner, California