Grouse Ridge
Campground
Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Nevada City
Blue Lake
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 3.0 mi
- round trip
- 187 ft
- climb
- 6,237 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Blue Lake open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.
Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Blue Lake is an easy, out-and-back hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Yuba River Ranger District. The trail is about 3 miles long, with a low point of 6,026 feet and a high of 6,237 feet, and it gains about 190 feet of elevation. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Lake Spaulding weather station, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, show July and August highs around 82°F with lows in the upper 40s. Winter there runs cold, with January highs in the mid-40s and lows near 25°F. Bikes are allowed on the trail. Beyers Lake is about a mile away, and the Fordyce Foot hike and Grouse Ridge campground are each about 1.2 miles off. Pierce Creek Campground is about 2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after The Rustic Table
Restaurant
On your way back · 5 mi · Open after 6If it rains Golden Drift Museum
Museum
On your way back · 17 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Nevada CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions23 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Blue Lake
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.
Jan
44° / 25°
Feb
46° / 26°
Mar
51° / 27°
Apr
56° / 30°
May
64° / 37°
Jun
75° / 43°
Jul
82° / 48°
Aug
82° / 47°
Sep
76° / 44°
Oct
65° / 37°
Nov
51° / 30°
Dec
43° / 25°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Spaulding, CA, 4 mi away at 5,156 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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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