Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 6 cliffs is a 9.1-mile out-and-back in Donner Memorial State Park near Donner, CA. The route passes Pacific Crest Viewpoint, Snowshed, Snowshed North Face and 2 more. It climbs 2,224 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi5,958 – 7,602 ft · steepest grade: 27%10.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Sugarbowl Village Path 39.30562, -120.33344
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 6 cliffs
9.1 mi · ▲ 2,224 ft · 4 hr 9 min
Elevation 5,959–7,601 ft
Out & Back · Donner Memorial State Park
Trailhead: Sugarbowl Village Path · 39.30562, -120.33344
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Snowshed.
- 50 ftPass Snowshed North Face.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Original Lincoln Highway Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Beaver Pond.
- 500 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass Beaver Pond.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading NW.
- 0.4 miReach Snowshed, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Original Lincoln Highway Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road Winter Route, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 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 surface
76% dirt1% gravel23% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Sugarbowl Village Path Trailhead
- Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Lake Angela, 9 lakes 12.7 mi · ▲ 1,843 ft
- Frog Lake Overlook–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 lakes 14.9 mi · ▲ 3,047 ft
- Tinker Knob–Mount Lincoln Viewpoint, 3 summits 13.6 mi · ▲ 3,253 ft
- Crest Divide Road–Emigrant Trail, 3 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,086 ft
- Tunnel Rock–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 3 cliffs 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,344 ft
- Lake Mary 2.6 mi · ▲ 467 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Donner, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Donner, California