Wentworth Springs Campground
Campground
Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City
Mckinstry
- 7.6 mi
- round trip
- 2,361 ft
- climb
- 6,934 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Mckinstry open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · Order 03-24-05 · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
McKinstry is a hard hike of about 7.6 miles in the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a low point at about 4,672 feet and a high of about 6,934 feet, so the one-way climb is roughly 2,361 feet. The route is natural-surfaced. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Tahoma weather station run to highs around 77°F in July and 76°F in August, with lows in the mid-40s. That station sits about 619 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike is open year-round. Other trails close by include the McKinstry Trail, about 1.7 miles away, and the Rubicon Trail, about 1.9 miles away. Wentworth Springs Campground is about 2.1 miles off, and Barker Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 3.1 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Swiss Lakewood Restaurant
Restaurant
On your way back · 9 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Sunnyside-Tahoe CityLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions12 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Mckinstry
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.
Jan
37° / 22°
Feb
38° / 22°
Mar
43° / 25°
Apr
49° / 27°
May
58° / 34°
Jun
69° / 40°
Jul
77° / 46°
Aug
76° / 46°
Sep
69° / 41°
Oct
58° / 34°
Nov
44° / 27°
Dec
38° / 21°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 10.7 mi away at 6,315 ft. The station sits about 600 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.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide
Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service
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