Tinker Knob–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes Donner Pass, Petroglyph Cliff and Pacific Crest Viewpoint before reaching Tinker Knob at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 2,868 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,962 – 8,905 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.31681, -120.33058
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Tinker Knob–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 6 sights
15.9 mi · ▲ 2,868 ft · 6 hr 44 min
Elevation 6,962–8,903 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.31681, -120.33058
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 80°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:13 PM
Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Tunnel #6, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Mount Judah Loop, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 5.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Tinker Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 5.2 miTurn right onto Mount Judah Loop, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
- 1.1 miSharp right onto Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading SE.
- 0.3 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
6% gravel5% dirt89% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 80°F51°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity20%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:13 PM
Tue
82°60°
Wed
82°55°
Thu
86°54°
Fri
87°56°
Sat
87°57°
Sun
85°55°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 8:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 3 cliffs 1.2 mi · ▲ 264 ft
- Mount Stephens–Lake Angela, 3 lakes 1.3 mi · ▲ 150 ft
- Goldilocks Wall–Lake Angela, 3 lakes 1.8 mi · ▲ 261 ft
- Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 3 cliffs 1.9 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Tunnel Rock & Donner Summit Lakes Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 491 ft
- German Ridge via Ski Ranch Lane 2.2 mi · ▲ 328 ft
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