California · Hiking · Near Bishop

Mount Tom

Mount TomPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
15.1 mi
round trip
6,818 ft
climb
13,599 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Mount Tom 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.

Mount Tom is a high, steep out-and-back hike in California's Inyo National Forest, within the White Mountain Ranger District. The route rises to a summit of 13,599 feet, with a total elevation gain of 6,818 feet over a distance of about 15 miles. The climb is rated expert, and the round trip involves about 6,800 feet of ascent and descent. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trip is best planned as a full-day effort. The estimated time is about 8.5 hours, so allow for a long day on the trail. Horton Lakes sits just 0.1 mile away, making it an easy addition to the route. Climbers can head to Warmup Boulders and Heaven, both within about 2.3 miles. For an overnight base, Bitterbrush Campground is about 4 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Bitterbrush Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 4.1 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Paiute-Shoshone Indian Cultural Center

    Museum

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bishop

Local outfitters

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

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Horton LakesPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Mount Tom RossPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Route to the summit of Mount Tom Ross (13,251 ft) from North Lake Trailhead.

Route details

Distance
15.1 mi round trip
Climbing
About 6,818 ft
Starts at
Horton Lakes Trailhead
Summit
13,643 ft
Difficulty
Expert

Questions about this route

How long is the Mount Tom on Mount Tom?

About 15.1 mi round trip from Horton Lakes Trailhead.

How much elevation gain is on the Mount Tom?

About 6,818 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mount Tom?

It is rated expert.

Where does the Mount Tom start?

Horton Lakes Trailhead.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Tom

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

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