AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Johnson Canyon

Big Dipper Loop–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights

15.2 mi · ▲ 3,185 ft · 6 hr 40 min

Big Dipper Loop–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights is a 15.2-mile out-and-back in Johnson Canyon near Donner Lake Village, CA. It climbs 3,185 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,598 – 7,655 ft · steepest grade: 23%16.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.36343, -120.30354
Nearest town Donner Lake Village, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Dipper Loop–Donner Lake Rim Trail, 5 sights

15.2 mi · ▲ 3,185 ft · 6 hr 40 min

Elevation 6,599–7,653 ft

Out & Back · Johnson Canyon

Trailhead: 39.36343, -120.30354

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 1.3 miTurn left onto Summit Lake Road, heading S.
  4. 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading SE.
  6. 1.1 miTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading NE.
  8. 1.4 miTurn left onto Willie's Wiggle, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Andromeda, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miSharp left onto Everest, heading NE.
  11. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Upper Mother Lode, heading NE.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Everest, heading NE.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hastings, heading E.
  14. 500 ftContinue straight onto Crazy Horse, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miBear left onto True Grit, heading E.
  16. 500 ftBear left onto Flying Squirrel, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 100 ftBear right onto Wild West, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 350 ftContinue straight onto White Lightning, heading SE.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Dipper Loop, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  24. 400 ftReach Donner Lake Rim Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right onto White Lightning, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right onto Wild West, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  28. 100 ftTurn left onto Flying Squirrel, heading E.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  30. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  31. 450 ftContinue straight onto True Grit, heading W.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Crazy Horse, heading W.
  33. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Hastings, heading N.
  34. 500 ftContinue straight onto Everest, heading NW.
  35. 0.4 miTurn right onto Upper Mother Lode, heading SW.
  36. 150 ftContinue straight onto Everest, heading NW.
  37. 0.5 miSharp right onto Andromeda, heading S.
  38. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Willie's Wiggle, heading W.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading SW.
  40. 1.4 miTurn left onto West Gatson Road, heading E.
  41. 0.1 miTurn right onto Donner Lake Rim Trail, heading NW.
  42. 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  43. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Lake Road, heading W.
  44. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  45. 1.3 miBear right, heading E.
  46. 0.6 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/summit-lake-summit-lake-out-back-4-lakes-25-km-ac0d

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

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