AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Donner Lake from McClashan Point.jpg
J.smith · CC BY-SA 3.0
Donner Memorial State Park

Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 5 cliffs

3.9 mi · ▲ 983 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 5 cliffs is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Donner, CA. The route passes Snowshed, Snowshed North Face and Beaver Pond before reaching Beaver Pond at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 983 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi6,073 – 7,071 ft · steepest grade: 32%4.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Donner Peak Trailhead 39.31470, -120.32727
Nearest town Donner, CA
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Directions

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Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 5 cliffs

3.9 mi · ▲ 983 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Elevation 6,073–7,071 ft

Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park

Trailhead: Donner Peak Trailhead · 39.31470, -120.32727

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  6. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  7. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftPass Snowshed.
  9. 50 ftPass Snowshed North Face.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading S.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left onto Original Lincoln Highway Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  17. 0.2 miPass Beaver Pond.
  18. 400 ftSharp right, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miPass Beaver Pond.
  20. 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 350 ftReach Snowshed, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading SE.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading SW.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading SW.
  29. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  31. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  32. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  33. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  35. 50 ftArrive 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/billy-mac-canyon-viewpoint-beaver-pond-out-back-5-lakes-11-km

Trail surface

96% dirt3% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 10 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Donner Peak Trailhead Trailhead

Hikes near Donner, California