AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Castle peak from warren lake trail - panoramio.jpg
Scott Thompson · CC BY 3.0

Warren Lake–West Lakes, 3 lakes

13.7 mi · ▲ 3,946 ft · 6 hr 32 min

Warren Lake–West Lakes, 3 lakes is a 13.7-mile out-and-back near Norden, CA. The route passes West Lakes before reaching Warren Lake at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 3,946 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,182 – 8,550 ft · steepest grade: 36%14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.33959, -120.34302
Nearest town Norden, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Warren Lake–West Lakes, 3 lakes

13.7 mi · ▲ 3,946 ft · 6 hr 32 min

Elevation 7,181–8,550 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.33959, -120.34302

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass West Lakes.
  3. 0.5 miSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.7 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading N.
  6. 5.1 miReach Warren Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 5.1 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.7 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.5 miSharp right, heading E.
  10. 0.4 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/warren-lake-west-lakes-out-back-3-lakes-22-km

Trail surface

85% dirt3% rock12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~121 min). Leave by 4:42 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Norden, California