Donner Lake Rim Trail Hike

This moderate hike (one steep section) will take hikers on a four-mile loop to the Drifter

Hut, which sits on a ridge top with views to the northwest of Castle Peak and Frog Lake

Cliffs, as well as a full Sierra panorama to the south. There is an ALERTWildfire camera

on the ridge. (Camera information in the “EXTRAS” section below.) The return follows

The Far Side trail (a Tahoe Donner trail) and at its highest point, 7,818 ft, you will be

treated to phenomenal 360-degree views. There are approximately 700 ft in elevation

change. The hike can just as easily be done in the opposite direction along Donner

Ridge.

EXTRAS: The ALERTWildfire camera in Tahoe Donner was installed in July 2020 and began

broadcasting live at https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/tahoe/?camera=Axis-

TahoeDonner. It is the twelfth fire camera to be added to the North Tahoe area network

to help protect Tahoe Donner and the North Tahoe-Truckee area, which is of critical

importance during summer months when red flag warnings and thunderstorms are

common.

©Gaia GPS, ©OpenStreetMap contributors

Distance 3.3 miles

Elevation:

Min. 7400’

Max. 7800’

Host or Publisher Truckee Donner Land Trust