California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness · Near Silver City

Cirque Lake

Cirque LakePhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.5 mi
round trip
196 ft
climb
11,202 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Cirque 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.

Cirque Lake is an easy out-and-back hike of about 1.5 miles in California's Inyo National Forest, within the John Muir Wilderness and the Mt. Whitney Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail rises about 196 feet from a low point of 10,993 feet to a high point of 11,202 feet, making it a short, low-effort walk on natural ground. The route is not accessible, and bikes are not allowed, but horses are. It stays open all year, so a trip can be planned for any season. Several other outings sit close by. The Cottonwood Lakes Cutoff #2 and South Fork Cottonwood Creek hikes are within half a mile. Cottonwood Lakes Walk In Campground is about 3 miles away for an overnight stay, and the Lone Pine Area climbing area is roughly a mile off.

Around this trail

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

    Golden Trout Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 1.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Whitney Portal Store

    Restaurant

    Restaurant · 7.4 mi from Silver City
  • If it rains

    Kern Hot Spring

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 11 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Silver City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Cottonwood Lakes Cutoff #2Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cottonwood Lakes Cutoff #2

Next door

1.75-mile loop with 344 ft elevation gain and loss in California.

South Fork Cottonwood CreekPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

South Fork Cottonwood Creek

Next door

5.86-mile out-and-back trail in California with 113 ft elevation gain.

New Army PassPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

New Army Pass

~2 min drive

9.58-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,298 ft elevation gain.

Cottonwood Pass TrailPhoto: danhurt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cottonwood Pass Trail

~3 min drive

9.46-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,248 ft elevation gain and loss.

Cottonwood Lakes Cutoff #1Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cottonwood Lakes Cutoff #1

~1 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in California with 81 ft elevation gain.

Cottonwood PassPhoto: Jesse Wagstaff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cottonwood Pass

~6 min drive

5.36-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,114 ft elevation gain.

Little Cottonwood CreekPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Little Cottonwood Creek

~3 min drive

8.7-mile out-and-back trail at Little Cottonwood Creek in California

Mount NewcombPhoto: danhurt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Newcomb

~6 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Newcomb (13,419 ft) from Cottonwood Pass Trailhead.

Muir LakePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Muir Lake

~1 min drive

1.20-mile out-and-back trail to Muir Lake in California with 147 ft of elevation gain.

Mulkey Pass TrailPhoto: danhurt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mulkey Pass Trail

~6 min drive

3.86-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,185 ft elevation gain.