California · Hiking · Near Silver City

Nelson

NelsonPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
7.2 mi
round trip
1,603 ft
climb
6,680 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 4 h ago

Is Nelson open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sequoia National Forest. It doesn't name Nelson, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Sequoia National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Nelson is a hard hike in the Western Divide Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back of about 7.2 miles with a one-way elevation gain of 1,603 feet, climbing from roughly 5,057 feet to about 6,680 feet at the high point. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Lodgepole weather station, about 33 miles away at a similar elevation, show July and August highs around 76°F with only about two wet days a month. Winter brings highs in the upper 30s and frequent snow days from December through March. Bikes are allowed on this trail, and the surface is natural. The nearby Belknap campground sits about half a mile away, with Holey Meadow about 1.5 miles off. Bear Creek Trail is about 1.7 miles away, and the climbing at Hermit Spires is about 4.8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Belknap

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
More in Silver City

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Nelson

    Best months: June–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

      39° / 17°

      9 wet · 8 snow

    2. Feb

      41° / 18°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 22°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 26°

      8 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      58° / 33°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 46°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 44°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 39°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 31°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      47° / 23°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      37° / 17°

      8 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lodgepole, CA, 33 mi away at 6,735 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.