Mt Judah & Donner Peak, Tahoe National Forest

It's just four miles from the Soda Springs exit of Interstate 80 to the head of our trail.

Drive past Sugar Bowl ski resort (past both an initial parking lot and main entrance) and turn right at the next cluster of buildings just up the road. An old road behind the buildings leads to the trailhead, and Pacific Crest Trail signs should reassure you that you're on the right track.

Begin your hike up a single-track trail, which should be adequately signed from the old road by PCT signs. The route starts climbing immediately, switch-backing up the mountains through pine forest.

Leave the Pacific Coast Trail at this point, heading upward onto the Mt. Judah Loop Trail.

If you're taking the full 5½ mile loop trail then this is the point to which you'll be returning to and closing the loop. Since snow cover can make wayfinding difficult, you may want to take note of this place to help you make your way back here.

Located at the saddle of the two mountains, bear North East to check out the views from Donner Peak before returning and heading up Mount Judah.

Mount Judah is the peak on which sits a reflective panel structure (answers on a postcard please to Trailspotting HQ explaining to us what this is for).

From Donner Peak enjoy the magnificent views over Donner Lake and Tahoe National Forest.

If you're hiking earlier in the season, it might be around this point in the hike that you'd like to decide whether to continue with the loop trail or double-back depending on the snow conditions and the equipment you've brought with you.

If snow is making the next segment of the hike and along the ridge-line of Mt Judah too imposing, you can still return to the trailhead having bagged a great summit.

From the top of the North face of Mt Judah the ridgeline guides you to the highest point of the mountain (8,243ft).

If this area is in deep snow and you are not familiar with conditions like this, we recommend returning the way you came. Should you decide to proceed, then be careful of cornices where snow has been blown into shapes that overhang the rock and contains nothing to support your weight.

Continue by switch-backing down the south side of the mountain and seeking out a junction with the Pacific Coast Trail.

Take a right turn at this junction and head along the Pacific Coast Trail in the direction of the trailhead. Follow a route which heads through the trees, parallel with Mount Judah, before slowly descending and tracing a route around and then through the trees.