California · Hiking · Near Shaver Lake

Hell Hole

2.0 mi
round trip
566 ft
climb
7,370 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Hell Hole open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Hell Hole is an easy out-and-back hike in the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 2 miles long, with a one-way climb of 566 feet from a low point of about 6,800 feet to a high of about 7,370 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Huntington Lake weather station, at a similar elevation, show July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 24°F. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses. It is not an accessible trail. Ward Lake campground sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Florence Lake mountain biking area is 0.2 mile off. The South Fork San Joaquin River, about 1.2 miles away, offers canoeing, and the Poison Meadow hike is about 1.5 miles away.

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  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Hell Hole

    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.

    1. Jan

      43° / 24°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 26°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      8 wet

    5. May

      56° / 36°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 37°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 31°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 25°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 13.8 mi away at 7,020 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Poison MeadowPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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HIKE

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Florence LakePhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Florence Ferry TrailPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Florence Ferry Trail

~8 min drive

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