AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Donner Lake as seen from Donner Pass.jpg
Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mount Stephens–Signal Hill, 5 lakes

6.2 mi · ▲ 1,397 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Mount Stephens–Signal Hill, 5 lakes is a 6.2-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes Lytton Lake, Signal Hill, Chinese Catfish Pond and Lake Angela before reaching Mount Stephens at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 1,397 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,005 – 7,674 ft · steepest grade: 20%6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31800, -120.35057
Nearest town Norden, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Stephens–Signal Hill, 5 lakes

6.2 mi · ▲ 1,397 ft · 2 hr 46 min

Elevation 7,004–7,675 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.31800, -120.35057

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 1.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftPass Lytton Lake.
  4. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  5. 400 ftBear right, heading E.
  6. 50 ftPass Signal Hill.
  7. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading NE.
  8. 450 ftBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.3 miPass Chinese Catfish Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Lake Angela.
  11. 50 ftSharp right onto Donner Summit Lakes Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  13. 500 ftReach Mount Stephens, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  15. 0.3 miBear right onto Ski Ranch Lane, heading SW.
  16. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  17. 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
  18. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  19. 1 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/signal-hill-german-ridge-out-back-3-cliffs-8-km

Trail surface

99% dirt1% paved

Weather

ClearTemperature 81°F55°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue 81°61°
Wed 81°55°
Thu 85°55°
Fri 85°56°
Sat 86°56°
Sun 87°54°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:57 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Norden, California