California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

04n12-Snow Trail

04n12-Snow TrailPhoto: scorpio-tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.7 mi
round trip
2,796 ft
climb
7,435 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 8 h ago

Is 04N12-SNOW TRAIL open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name 04N12-SNOW TRAIL, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

The 04N12-Snow Trail is a hard out-and-back hike in California's Stanislaus National Forest, within the Summit Ranger District. The route is about 13.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 2,796 feet, and it starts and ends at about 5,916 feet. The high point is 7,435 feet, and the climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 4.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 21%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 75°F with only about one wet day a month, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The trip takes about six hours. Pinecrest campground and the Pinecrest to Strawberry mountain biking route are both about 1.4 miles away. The Pinecrest Lake Buttress climbing area is about 2.3 miles off, and the South Fork Stanislaus River offers canoeing about 6.9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Pinecrest

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Strawberry Inn

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)

More in Bear Valley
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit 04N12-SNOW TRAIL

    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.

    1. Jan

      44° / 32°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 31°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 32°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 36°

      8 wet

    5. May

      58° / 43°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 52°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 60°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      75° / 59°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 54°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 46°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 37°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 32°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yosemite Village 12 W, CA, 32.9 mi away at 6,620 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

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