California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

Aspen Meadow

9.0 mi
round trip
418 ft
climb
7,229 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 9 h ago

Is Aspen Meadow open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Aspen Meadow, 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.

Aspen Meadow is a 9-mile out-and-back hike on natural surface in the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail runs between a low point of 6,958 feet and a high of 7,229 feet, with an elevation gain of 418 feet one way, and it is rated hard. The route stays open year-round. Bikes and horses are both allowed, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 75°F with lows near 60°F and only one wet day a month, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Yosemite Village. That station sits roughly 600 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run a bit cooler. Bell Meadow lies less than a mile away, and Crab Tree Cut Off is about 1.7 miles off. The Pinecrest Lake Buttress climbing area and Pioneer Trail campground are both about 2 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Kerrick Corral Horse Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Locals Cafe

    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 Aspen Meadow

    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, 29.6 mi away at 6,620 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Crab Tree Cut OffPhoto: TyB, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crab Tree Cut Off

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PioneerPhoto: Shannon Badiee, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pioneer

~4 min drive

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04N12-SNOW TRAILPhoto: scorpio-tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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25.38-mile out-and-back trail in California with 4,258 ft elevation gain.

Pinecrest to StrawberryPhoto: Doug Letterman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pinecrest to Strawberry

~5 min drive

1.39-mile out-and-back trail from Pinecrest to Strawberry in California.

HIKE

Bell Meadow

~1 min drive

8.10-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,049 ft gain.