California · Hiking · Emigrant Wilderness

Blackbird Lake

Blackbird LakePhoto: Jane S. Richardson (talk · contribs), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5.3 mi
round trip
380 ft
climb
9,430 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Blackbird Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Blackbird Lake is a 5.3-mile out-and-back hike in California's Emigrant Wilderness, within the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route lies entirely within designated wilderness. The hike climbs about 380 feet from a low point of 9,047 feet to a high point of 9,430 feet. The trail is rated moderate and is open year round. Horses are allowed, and the surface is natural. Bikes are not. 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, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Horse Meadow Trail and Bigelow Lake both lie about 1.3 miles away. Horse Meadow, a mountain biking area, is 1.7 miles off, and East Fork Cherry Creek, a canoeing spot, is 2.9 miles away.