California · Hiking · Near Mammoth Lakes

Crystal Lake

Crystal LakePhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.3 mi
round trip
51 ft
climb
9,666 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Crystal 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.

Crystal Lake is a short, easy hike in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.27 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 51 feet, and it makes an out-and-back route. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. Lake George and Dog Wall, both climbing areas, sit within a quarter mile. Mammoth Crest and Lake George Campground are about 0.6 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Lake George Tract

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lakefront

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Twin Falls view

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 1 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 Crystal Lake

    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, 26.3 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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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