California · Hiking · Ansel Adams Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Ashley Lake

2.5 mi
round trip
453 ft
climb
9,599 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Ashley 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.

Ashley Lake is an easy 2.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, part of the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail lies within designated wilderness. The hike gains about 450 feet, from a low of about 9,160 feet to a high of about 9,600 feet. The trail surface is natural, and it is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows run to a high of 71°F and a low of 38°F, and temperatures on this route run a little cooler. Holcomb Lake is just 0.2 miles away, and Superior Lake is half a mile off. Minaret Falls Campground and Reds Meadow Campground are both within about 4 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Minaret Falls Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Outpost 14

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rainsEeekster, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sierra Point

    Viewpoint

    Viewpoint · 24 mi from Mammoth Lakes

    Point in Yosemite National Park at the eastern end of the valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

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 Ashley 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, 20.7 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 900 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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