California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Bear Ridge

7.9 mi
round trip
1,713 ft
climb
9,847 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 4 h ago

Is Bear Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Bear Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Bear Ridge is a hard hike in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 8,270 feet to 9,847 feet, a gain of 1,713 feet over roughly 7.9 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, and the station sits about 1,150 feet below the ridge, so temperatures on the high point run cooler. The trail is not accessible. It is open year-round, and the Vermilion Valley Dam Trail and High Sierra Pack Station both lie about 1.5 miles away. Mono Creek campground and the Mono Meadow hike are each about 1.8 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Mono Creek Overflow

    Campground

    Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Iva Bell Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 12 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 Bear Ridge

    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, 40.5 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.