California · Hiking · Kaiser Wilderness · Near Shaver Lake

Idaho Lake

Idaho LakePhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.6 mi
round trip
884 ft
climb
9,241 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Idaho Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Idaho Lake is a hard hike in the Kaiser Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs from about 8,825 feet to about 9,241 feet over roughly 4.6 miles. It is not an accessible trail. 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, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The Twin Lakes Loop and the Potter Creek mountain biking trailhead are both about 0.8 miles away. Badger Flats Group and Badger Flat campgrounds are within about 2 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Badger Flats Group

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Saloon

    Pub

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Shaver Lake

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Idaho Lake

    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, 26.7 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.