Sunset hikes

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 1.7 mi away

   Leave by 6:23 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:23 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car7:30 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 7:30 PM — 0 min before dark.

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

2. Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights 1.9 mi away

   Leave by 3:50 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:50 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car9:35 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 9:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

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

   Leave by 3:43 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:43 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car9:24 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

4. Lake Mary–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2 mi away

   Leave by 3:50 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:50 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car9:20 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 9:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

5. Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 6 cliffs 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:22 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:22 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car7:31 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 300 ft climb · 33 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

6. Signal Hill–Snowshed, 8 lakes 2.8 mi away

   Leave by 6:00 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:00 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car7:48 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.2 mi to the viewpoint · 450 ft climb · 72 min of walking

7. Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 9 sights 2.8 mi away

   Leave by 5:12 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:12 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car8:18 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 8:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.4 mi to the viewpoint · 1070 ft climb · 151 min of walking

8. Tunnel Rock–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 sights 3.3 mi away

   Leave by 4:06 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:06 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car9:47 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 9:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.4 mi to the viewpoint · 870 ft climb · 306 min of walking

9. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road & Lakeview Canyon Road 1.8 mi away

   Leave by 4:22 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:22 PM
   2. Sunset7:03 PM
   3. Head back7:18 PM
   4. At your car9:15 PM
   5. Dark7:30 PM

   Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

10. Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 10 sights 1.9 mi away

    Leave by 6:42 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:42 PM
    2. Sunset7:03 PM
    3. Head back7:18 PM
    4. At your car7:20 PM
    5. Dark7:30 PM

    Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 10 min before dark.

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

11. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road–Emigrant Trail, 3 sights 2.7 mi away

    Leave by 2:40 PM

    1. Leave trailhead2:40 PM
    2. Sunset7:03 PM
    3. Head back7:18 PM
    4. At your car10:55 PM
    5. Dark7:30 PM

    Back at your car by 10:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

12. Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 5 sights 3.3 mi away

    Leave by 5:13 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:13 PM
    2. Sunset7:03 PM
    3. Head back7:18 PM
    4. At your car8:51 PM
    5. Dark7:30 PM

    Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    3.4 mi to the viewpoint · 260 ft climb · 183 min of walking