California · Hiking · Near Mammoth Lakes

Hilton Lakes

Hilton LakesPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.2 mi
round trip
13 ft
climb
9,994 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Hilton Lakes 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.

Hilton Lakes is a short, easy hike in the White Mountain Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 0.24 miles, with a one-way climb of just 13 feet from a low point of 9,969 feet to a high of 9,994 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, and the station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the hike, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Several other spots sit within a short distance. Rock Creek Pond Loop Ski, a mountain biking route, is about 0.4 miles away, and Upper Rock Creek Canyon is about 0.5 miles off. Rock Creek Lake Group Campground is about 0.6 miles away, and Rock Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 1.8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Rock Creek Lake Group Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Pelican Point Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 8 mi
  • If it rains

    Hot Spring

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 15 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 Hilton Lakes

    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, 43.8 mi away at 8,694 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

HILTON LAKESPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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PINE GROVE TO HILTON LAKESPhoto: mazumas, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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