California · Hiking · Mokelumne Wilderness · Near Bear Valley

Jackson Canyon

6.5 mi
round trip
1,493 ft
climb
7,798 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Jackson Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Jackson Canyon, 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.

Jackson Canyon is a hard hike of about 6.5 miles in the Mokelumne Wilderness, part of the Calaveras Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The nearest town is Cape Horn, about 2.6 miles away. The trail is natural-surfaced and rated hard, with a one-way elevation gain of about 1,493 feet. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The route is an out-and-back that starts at roughly 6,300 feet and climbs to about 7,800 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass run around 75°F for highs and 49°F for lows, with only a couple of wet days a month. Other spots within a short distance include the Underwood Valley mountain biking area and the North Fork Mokelumne River for canoeing. For an overnight base, Pine Marten and Silver Valley campgrounds are each about 3.1 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Backpackers Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lake Alpine Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 16 mi from Bear Valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bear Valley

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Jackson Canyon

    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, 31.7 mi away at 7,334 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Pack TrailPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pack Trail

~2 min drive

Pack Trail is a 1.82-mile out-and-back hike in California with 771 ft of elevation gain.

Underwood ValleyPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Underwood Valley

~3 min drive

15.35-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,156 ft elevation gain.

ALPINE HORSE TRAIL LOOPPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

ALPINE HORSE TRAIL LOOP

~5 min drive

2.32-mile out-and-back trail in California with 671 ft gain/loss

Elephant RockPhoto: wiskinator, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Elephant Rock

~6 min drive

5.19-mile out-and-back trail to Elephant Rock in California with 344 ft gain.

Lake ValleyPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Valley

~4 min drive

11.45-mile out-and-back trail in California with 378 ft elevation gain.

Three CreeksPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Three Creeks

~5 min drive

1.68-mile out-and-back trail in California with 407 ft elevation gain/loss.

North Lake AlpinePhoto: weldonwk, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Lake Alpine

~6 min drive

5.48-mile out-and-back trail to North Lake Alpine in California.

Sandy Mdw.Photo: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sandy Mdw.

~5 min drive

7.19-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,000 ft gain.

Lower Woodchuck TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Woodchuck Trail

~5 min drive

2.62-mile out-and-back hike in California with 673 ft gain/loss

Heiser LakePhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Heiser Lake

~7 min drive

4.58-mile out-and-back trail to Heiser Lake in California with 746 ft of elevation gain.