A hiking and mountain biking destination near Donner Summit: Summit Lake

 Summit Lake, Sierra Nevada
Summit Lake

Clouds reflected in surface-rippled Summit Lake
The Donner Party Memorial and Donner Lake in Truckee are popular tourist destinations in the Sierra Nevada, seasonally attracting quite some crowds. Much less crowded and also less known is Summit Lake, which is not directly accessible to motorists. This scenic subalpine lake is mostly visited by hikers, horseback riders and mountain bicyclists, who like to “get lost” between boulders and conifers surrounding the lake. They enjoy the lakelet while traveling Donner Lake Rim Trail (DLRT) between Gregory Creek and Warren Lake Trail. Depending on your recreation goal and trailhead choice, you may opt for a Summit Lake round trip or consider it as a sideways attraction when headed toward the Frog Lake Overlook, Warren Lake or the volcanic ridges of Castle Peak. The latter can be viewed from the east shore of Summit Lake.
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Trails near Donner Summit
▶ Castle Peak
▶ Pacific Crest Trail/Peter Grubb Hut
▶ Hole-In-The-Ground Trail
▶ Mt. Judah Loop Trail
▶ Between Roller Pass and Mt. Anderson
▶ Gregory Creek Overlook Trail