N. Fork Merced River (Lower)
- 11.4 mi
- round trip
- 876 ft
- climb
- 2,389 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is N. Fork Merced River (Lower) open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name N. Fork Merced River (Lower), so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Stanislaus National Forest extends seasonal MVUM closure for two high elevation roads
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
Extension of Seasonal Road Closures
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The N. Fork Merced River (Lower) is an 11.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Groveland Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The route climbs from a low of about 1,687 feet to a high of about 2,389 feet, a total gain of 876 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes both allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Groveland put May highs around 73°F and October highs around 74°F. July and August average highs near 91°F, and the station sits about 400 feet higher than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little warmer. The hike is open year-round. Bondurant, a hike about 1.3 miles away, is the closest neighbor. The North Fork Merced River, a canoeing route about 3.2 miles off, and the Bandarita H2o Tanks hike, about 3.8 miles away, round out the options. For an overnight stay, Lost Claim campground lies about 5.1 miles from the trail.
Best time to go · Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit N. Fork Merced River (Lower)
Best months: February–June and September–November. 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
53° / 31°
10 wet
Feb
55° / 32°
9 wet
Mar
60° / 35°
10 wet
Apr
65° / 38°
7 wet
May
73° / 44°
4 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
91° / 56°
0 wet
Aug
91° / 55°
1 wet
Sep
85° / 50°
2 wet
Oct
74° / 42°
4 wet
Nov
60° / 35°
8 wet
Dec
52° / 31°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Groveland 2, CA, 12.3 mi away at 2,800 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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