Sunset hikes near Donner Pines Tract, ca

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Donner Lake–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2.2 mi away

   Leave by 6:48 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:48 PM
   2. Sunset7:28 PM
   3. Head back7:43 PM
   4. At your car7:54 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 7:54 PM — 1 min before dark.

   0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 280 ft climb · 32 min of walking

2. Roller Pass–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 4:07 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:07 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car9:49 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 9:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.2 mi to the viewpoint · 1840 ft climb · 307 min of walking

3. Lake Mary–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 4:14 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:14 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car9:44 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 9:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1740 ft climb · 295 min of walking

4. Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 8 sights 2.9 mi away

   Leave by 4:47 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:47 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car9:28 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 9:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   4.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1490 ft climb · 247 min of walking

5. Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights 3.1 mi away

   Leave by 4:14 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:14 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car9:59 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 9:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.5 mi to the viewpoint · 1370 ft climb · 311 min of walking

6. Signal Hill–Lake Angela, 11 lakes 3.1 mi away

   Leave by 3:31 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:31 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car10:50 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 10:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   7.1 mi to the viewpoint · 1450 ft climb · 405 min of walking

7. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road & Lakeview Canyon Road 2 mi away

   Leave by 4:46 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:46 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car9:40 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 9:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   4.2 mi to the viewpoint · 1310 ft climb · 258 min of walking

8. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road–Emigrant Trail, 3 sights 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 3:04 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:04 PM
   2. Sunset7:27 PM
   3. Head back7:42 PM
   4. At your car11:19 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 11:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   8.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1630 ft climb · 460 min of walking

9. Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 10 sights 3.1 mi away

   Leave by 7:06 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:06 PM
   2. Sunset7:28 PM
   3. Head back7:43 PM
   4. At your car7:44 PM
   5. Dark7:55 PM

   Back at your car by 7:44 PM — 11 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 4 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

10. Frog Lake Overlook–Frog Lake Cliff, 11 sights 1.4 mi away

    Leave by 6:15 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:15 PM
    2. Sunset7:27 PM
    3. Head back7:42 PM
    4. At your car8:32 PM
    5. Dark7:55 PM

    Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.7 mi to the viewpoint · 380 ft climb · 102 min of walking

11. Everest–Far Side, 4 sights 1.7 mi away

    Leave by 3:29 PM

    1. Leave trailhead3:29 PM
    2. Sunset7:27 PM
    3. Head back7:42 PM
    4. At your car10:39 PM
    5. Dark7:54 PM

    Back at your car by 10:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    7.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1630 ft climb · 395 min of walking

12. Flora Lake–Azalea Lake, 8 sights 1.8 mi away

    Leave by 6:36 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:36 PM
    2. Sunset7:27 PM
    3. Head back7:42 PM
    4. At your car8:16 PM
    5. Dark7:55 PM

    Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.1 mi to the viewpoint · 170 ft climb · 65 min of walking