California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

Highland Creek

Highland CreekPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
34.0 mi
round trip
3,106 ft
climb
8,624 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Highland Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Highland Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highland Creek is a hard hike in the Calaveras Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The trail is about 34 miles long and rises more than 3,100 feet from a low point of about 6,600 feet to a high point of about 8,600 feet, making it a demanding out-and-back route. It is on land managed by the Forest Service, and the trail is natural-surface with horses allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, which sits roughly 1,300 feet below the trail, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 49°F and only about two wet days a month. Winter there is cold, with January highs near 36°F and lows around 23°F. The trail starts close to Silver Valley Campground and the Lower Woodchuck Trail, both about 0.1 mile away. Lake Alpine Recreation Area is about 0.3 mile off, and the North Fork Mokelumne River, a canoeing route, is about 3.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    (lake Alpine) Silver Valley Campground

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lake Alpine Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)

More in Bear Valley
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Highland Creek

    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

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 34.7 mi away at 7,334 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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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