Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 3 cliffs is an 8.9-mile out-and-back near Soda Springs, CA. The route passes Donner Pass and Petroglyph Cliff before reaching Tunnel Rock at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 708 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Tunnel Rock–Petroglyph Cliff, 3 cliffs
8.9 mi · ▲ 708 ft · 3 hr 19 min
Elevation 6,768–7,160 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.32146, -120.37984
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1.9 miPass Donner Pass.
- 50 ftPass Petroglyph Cliff.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Tunnel Rock Approach Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Tunnel Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tunnel #6, heading S.
- 1.9 miSharp left onto Bill Patterson, heading NW.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 5:13 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Rowton Peak Trail & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Kilborn Lake–Deer Lake, 4 sights 7.8 mi · ▲ 677 ft
- Overload & Switchback via Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 707 ft
- Pine Marten 3 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Overland Trail & Switchback 9.1 mi · ▲ 2,272 ft
- Serene Lakes & Switchback 4.5 mi · ▲ 411 ft
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