Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes is a 12.2-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes, West Lakes and Castle Pass before reaching Sand Ridge Lake at the turnaround, 6.1 miles in. It climbs 1,456 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,182 – 7,983 ft · steepest grade: 21%12.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.33959, -120.34302
Nearest town Norden, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes
12.2 mi · ▲ 1,456 ft · 4 hr 48 min
Elevation 7,181–7,984 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.33959, -120.34302
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 79°F / low 52° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 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 left onto Summit Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass West Lakes.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.2 miPass Castle Pass.
- 1 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.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading S.
- 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
31% dirt3% rock66% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 79°F52°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity28%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
80°60°
Wed
80°54°
Thu
84°54°
Fri
84°55°
Sat
85°55°
Sun
86°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~118 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:04 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 via Pacific Crest Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 316 ft
- West Lakes via Pacific Crest Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 425 ft
- West Lakes & Donner Lake Rim Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 399 ft
- Tunnel Rock–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 6.2 mi · ▲ 727 ft
- Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 11 lakes 9.5 mi · ▲ 1,487 ft
- Frog Lake–West Lakes, 5 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 2,762 ft
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Hikes near Norden, California