California · Lake fishing · Near Mammoth Lakes

Purple Lake

Jun–Sep
best months

Is Purple Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Purple Lake is a 38-acre lake in California, at about 9,882 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Coldwater Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 5.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lakefront

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • If it rains

    Art Gallery at Twin Lakes

    Gallery

    On your way back · 7 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mammoth Lakes

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Purple Lake

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 13°

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

    3. Mar

      42° / 15°

    4. Apr

      45° / 22°

    5. May

      54° / 27°

    6. Jun

      65° / 33°

    7. Jul

      71° / 38°

    8. Aug

      70° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 32°

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

    11. Nov

      47° / 20°

    12. Dec

      40° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 32.3 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

More spots nearby

Keep exploring — more waters worth the drive

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Duck Lake

~3 min drive

Duck Lake is a 228-acre lake in California, at about 10,436 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Lake Dorothy

~6 min drive

Lake Dorothy is a 148-acre lake in California, at about 10,275 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Laurel Lakes

~6 min drive

Laurel Lakes is an 8-acre lake in California, at about 9,760 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Bighorn Lake

~6 min drive

Bighorn Lake is a 6-acre lake in California, at about 10,620 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Mildred Lake

~7 min drive

Mildred Lake is a 15-acre lake in California, at about 9,776 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Chief Lake

~7 min drive

Chief Lake is a 19-acre lake in California, at about 10,492 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Graveyard Lakes

~10 min drive

Graveyard Lakes is a 6-acre lake in California, at about 10,326 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Lake Mary

~10 min drive

Lake Mary is a 103-acre lake in California, at about 8,915 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Lower Graveyard Lake

~10 min drive

Lower Graveyard Lake is a 14-acre lake in California, at about 9,907 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Big Margaret Lake

~12 min drive

Big Margaret Lake is an 82-acre lake in California, at about 9,988 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.