The Best Trails in Norden, California (United States)

PCT to Donner Summit Lakes Loop Trail: Lakes Angela, Flora, and Azalea Loop via the PCT

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MarcyB!

Distance: 5.25mi
Elevation +: 561f
TrailRank: 53| 5.0

Photo ofPCT to Donner Summit Lakes Loop Trail: Lakes Angela, Flora, and Azalea Loop via the PCT

The PCT half of this hike is along a well-trodden, easy-to-follow trail. Starting at mile 3.1 to mile 3.2 requires navigating across unmarked granite. Once you’re at each lake, you’ll find several trails intersecting t...

If the lake levels you may need find a higher trail over the granite.

Mark Moore

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Donner Lake Rim Trail to Summit Lake Loop

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MarcyB!

Distance: 7.17mi
Elevation +: 476f
TrailRank: 37

Photo ofDonner Lake Rim Trail to Summit Lake Loop

Trails are very easy to follow even over all the granite. There is lots of open area with sun exposure & granite so I would not suggest this as a summer hike. Today was a beautiful fall day and the weather was perfect. ...

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Castle Peak to Basin Peak then onto Peter Grubb Hut

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 9.32mi
Elevation +: 5184f
TrailRank: 36

Photo ofCastle Peak to Basin Peak then onto Peter Grubb Hut

Castle Peak is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Castle Peak is the throat of an ancient volcano and its three turrets are easily visible form nearby Interstate 80. Castle Peak feels li...

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Basin Peak Loop 2014-07-27

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 13.90mi
Elevation +: 3261f
TrailRank: 35| 5.0

Loop trail in the Castle Pass area north of I-80 at Donner Summit, Tahoe National Forest, California, USA. Starts on Castle Pass Road, joins the P.C.T. to Castle Pass, then up to Castle Peak, across the ridge to Basin Pe...

Nice route, not the more common loop I’ve done a few times this goes around a new interesting way. Will try this soon. N...

GVNC2Sierra

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Castle peak

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HikingBobo

Distance: 5.98mi
Elevation +: 1755f
TrailRank: 34

Trail was soft with spikes going in, but very soft coming out. Trail up to the ridge was pretty packed but the ridge toward Castle Peak was not. Made for a tough hike out. But, it was a beautiful short sleeve day and my ...

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Peter Grubb Hut

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MarcyB!

Distance: 7.13mi
Elevation +: 833f
TrailRank: 33

We parked below the green gate and walked up 1 mi to the trailhead. If you have a 4-wheel drive (and confident driving skills) you could drive up the road to start the hike at the PCT junction. Great trail with no sket...

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Castle Peak to Boreal then on to Peter Grubb Hut

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 9.67mi
Elevation +: 2874f
TrailRank: 33

Photo ofCastle Peak to Boreal then on to Peter Grubb Hut

Castle Peak Trail is a 6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Soda Springs, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature tri...

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Sand Ridge Lake 2012-09-09

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 10.24mi
Elevation +: 1493f
TrailRank: 32

Hike to Sand Ridge Lake via the Pacific Crest Trail to Round Valley the Sand Ridge Lake Trail, and return via the Hole-in-the-Ground Trail and Castle Valley Road. Trailhead at the Castle Pass Exit on I-80 near Donner Sum...

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Castle Peak and Basin Peak 2012-07-08

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 14.18mi
Elevation +: 2608f
TrailRank: 31

Photo ofCastle Peak and Basin Peak 2012-07-08

Hike from the P.C.T. trailhead at highway I-80 to Castle Peak and Basin Peak. Via sections of the Donner Lake Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, and use trails to and between the peaks. Tahoe National Forest, California,...

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PCT from I-80 South

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 4.28mi
Elevation +: 610f
TrailRank: 29

An out-and-back hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Interstate-80 trailhead south. Tahoe National Forest, Donner Pass, California, USA.

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Castle Ridge

Snowshoe

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 4.49mi
Elevation +: 745f
TrailRank: 29

Castle Ridge, take the Boreal/Castle Peak exit from I-80 at Donner Summit. Go east along the frontage road on the north side of the freeway. Park where the pavement ends. From the pavement end, follow the dirt road about...

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Castle Valley to Peter Grub hut

Snowshoe

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 6.01mi
Elevation +: 2201f
TrailRank: 28

Accessible by skis or snowshoes, the Peter Grubb hut makes for an awesome remote winter camping experience. The hut is surrounded by several peaks that boast amazing views of the Tahoe basin. A winter season must do! ...

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Snowshoe Donner Summit, Summit Lake Area

Snowshoe

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FoothillHikers

Distance: 2.24mi
Elevation +: 433f
TrailRank: 27

Photo ofSnowshoe Donner Summit, Summit Lake Area

This track has several points where I went off trail to practice trailbreaking. Track logged 02/21/2011. Directions and Description: I80 East Boreal Exit: Turn left (right will take you into the Boreal ski parking lot...

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Warren Lake Hike in (over snow)

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CrayClay

Distance: 6.97mi
Elevation +: 2277f
TrailRank: 27

Too early season of a hike to Warren Lake, across a lot of snow, with no trail to follow. GPS and persistence a must. Overnight at the lake and return via a less snowy route.

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Castle/Basin/Andesite Peak

Alpine Climbing

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Allan_R

Distance: 9.88mi
Elevation +: 2585f
TrailRank: 27

A hike to Castle Peak, Basin Peak, and Andesite Peak in the Tahoe National Forest. A nice dayhike, except for a 70' near-vertical class 3 scramble to the east (true summit) turret of Castle Peak. Very good holds, still a...

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Peter Grubb Hut and partial Castle Peak

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Lklifeart

Distance: 10.36mi
Elevation +: 1496f
TrailRank: 26

Photo ofPeter Grubb Hut and partial Castle Peak

Peter Grubb Hut & partial Castle Peak hike. Reason for back and forth on showing of trail is a friend and I went back to meet others a couple times on the hike; otherwise Time much shorter for this hike.

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Donner summit -Peter Grubb Hut

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cchenshaw

Distance: 4.77mi
Elevation +: 696f
TrailRank: 25

There are petroglyphs located approx 1 mile from the trailhead. Notice the jog to the right off the trail. Climb to the top of the rocks and find the petroglyphs etched in the rocks. There is alsoa grinding stone with tw...

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Summit Lake & Frog Lake 2011-08-28

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 8.02mi
Elevation +: 1539f
TrailRank: 25

Photo ofSummit Lake & Frog Lake 2011-08-28

Hike from Donner Summit (PCT trailhead on I-80) to Summit Lake and the Frog Lake overlook. Tahoe National Forest, near Soda Springs, California, USA.

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Azalea and flora lakes. Lake Tahoe Area

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urocande

with

Distance: 4.30mi
Elevation +: 325f
TrailRank: 90| 5.0

Photo ofAzalea and flora lakes. Lake Tahoe Area

Azalea and flora lakes . En un momento determinado me equivoque de rumbo y seguí descendiendo algo así como 1 km por el Pacific Crest Trail en lugar de desviarme a la izquierda para ir a los lagos Es recomendable conta...

Bonitos lagos en el area de Truckee y tahoe lake

joseluisdiazgarcia1967

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Boreal Ridge 2010-01-03

Snowshoe

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NevadaRambler

Distance: 4.17mi
Elevation +: 778f
TrailRank: 24

Snowshoe hike from PCT trailhead at I-80 to Flora, Azalea, and Angela Lakes, then to the top of Boreal Ridge; near Soda Springs, California, USA.

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PCT to Angela, Flora and Azalea Lakes

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SandyO

Distance: 5.17mi
Elevation +: 548f
TrailRank: 24

Photo ofPCT to Angela, Flora and Azalea Lakes

Great hike from Boreal, on the PCT up to Donner Summit and to Angela, Flora and Azalea Lakes. Moderate hike, the trail has a lot of rocks and roots which makes watching your feet important. The 3 lakes and multiple ponds...

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Paradise Lake - Sierra Nevadas

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officialposer

Distance: 19.11mi
Elevation +: 3048f
TrailRank: 24

A 20mi hike I did with my daughter when she was 8 years of age. We started at the PCT trailhead near Boreal sno-park and hiked 10mi to Paradise Lake over Castle Peak and pass the Peter Grubb hut. Then we returned the nex...

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PCT to Andisite Peak- Peter Grubb Hut

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 6.20mi
Elevation +: 1125f
TrailRank: 24

Photo ofPCT to Andisite Peak- Peter Grubb Hut

Peter Grubb Hut is located below Castle Peak in Round Valley, 3 miles north of the Castle Peak trailhead near I-80. Expect approximately 800′ of elevation gain. The route is poorly marked by orange triangles mounted obsc...

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Azalea Lake

Snowshoe

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Moonshinedf

Distance: 3.06mi
Elevation +: 197f
TrailRank: 23

Azalea Lake and Flora Lake via Donner Summit Lakes Trail is a 2.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Soda Springs, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a...

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