California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Devil's Bathtub

Devil's BathtubPhoto: garritron — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.1 mi
round trip
258 ft
climb
9,177 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Devil's Bathtub open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Devil's Bathtub, 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.

Devil's Bathtub is a short, easy out-and-back hike in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest. The trail is about a mile long, with a one-way elevation gain of 258 feet, and it starts and ends at roughly 8,900 feet, rising to about 9,177 feet at the high point. The route is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and it is not an accessible trail. It is managed by the Forest Service and is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs sit around 41°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Feather Lake and Graveyard Cutoff are both about 2 miles away. Vermillion campground is about 3 miles off, and Mono Hot Springs is about 7 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Vermillion

    Campground

    Campground · 3.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Iva Bell Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 8 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 · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Devil's Bathtub

    Best months: May–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° / 17°

    2. Feb

      41° / 18°

    3. Mar

      45° / 22°

    4. Apr

      51° / 27°

    5. May

      60° / 35°

    6. Jun

      70° / 42°

    7. Jul

      78° / 49°

    8. Aug

      77° / 47°

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

    10. Oct

      61° / 30°

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

    12. Dec

      41° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 15.6 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.