California · Hiking · Kaiser Wilderness · Near Shaver Lake

Nellie Lake

Nellie LakePhoto: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.1 mi
round trip
581 ft
climb
9,013 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Nellie Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Nellie 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.

Nellie Lake is an easy out-and-back hike in the Kaiser Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits about 2 miles from Mammoth Lakes, California. It's a natural-surface route with a one-way climb of about 580 feet, carrying you from roughly 8,400 feet to about 9,000 feet. The trail is set up for horses, and bikes are not allowed. It is not an accessible trail. For the most comfortable conditions, plan for late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs there hover around 41°F. Gloria Meadow lies about 0.7 miles away, and the Kaiser Loop, a mountain biking route, is about 1.2 miles off. For camping, Upper Billy Creek Campground is about 2.8 miles away. Big Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 4.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Billy Creek, Upper

    Campground

    Campground · 2.8 mi from the trail

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 Nellie 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, 29.4 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.

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