South Fork Tamarack
Campground
Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
California · Lake fishing · Near Shaver Lake
Balsam Forebay
- May–Oct
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 23 h ago
Is Balsam Forebay open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Balsam Forebay, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Safety Tips for Burned Areas: Garnet Fire Area
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-03 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-02 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Forest Order removes Fish Camp, Soda Springs, and Little Jackass from closure list
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-11 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-09 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Sierra National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Balsam Forebay is a 15-acre pond in California, at about 6,662 feet.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Shaver LakeLocal outfitters
- Bishop Pack Outfitters35 mi away
- Rainbow Pack Outfitters38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Balsam Forebay TrailHiking0.5 mi
- Sloth AreaRock climbing0.6 mi
- Camp 72Rock climbing0.7 mi
- CoyoteCross-country skiing1.7 mi
- Stevenson CreekCanoeing2.3 mi
- Pitman CreekCanoeing3.2 mi
Dorabelle CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain4.7 mi- SwansonCamping4.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Dam Six LakeLake fishing · ~10 min drive
- Redinger LakeLake fishing · ~16 min drive
- Coyote LakeLake fishing · ~17 min drive
- Little LakeLake fishing · ~20 min drive
- Nelson LakesLake fishing · ~21 min drive
- Summit LakeLake fishing · ~26 min drive
- High Sierra RDLake fishing · ~29 min drive
- Hobler LakeLake fishing · ~30 min drive
- Bear Dam LakeLake fishing · ~34 min drive
- Ward Mountain LakeLake fishing · ~34 min drive
Best time to visit Balsam Forebay
Best months: May–October. 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.
Jan
43° / 24°
11 wet
Feb
44° / 23°
11 wet
Mar
46° / 26°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 29°
8 wet
May
56° / 36°
6 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
3 wet
Jul
74° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
58° / 37°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 31°
8 wet
Dec
44° / 25°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 5 mi away at 7,020 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
