California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Olive Lake

Olive LakePhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.8 mi
round trip
339 ft
climb
9,713 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Olive Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Olive Lake is an easy out-and-back hike in the John Muir Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail lies within designated wilderness, about 2.8 miles long with a total elevation gain of about 340 feet. The route starts at a low point around 9,380 feet and reaches a high point of about 9,713 feet. Horses are allowed, and the trail surface is natural, but the trail is not accessible. Bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run around 71°F for highs and 38°F for lows, and that station sits a few hundred feet lower than the hike's high point, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. Peter Pande Lake is about 0.7 miles away, and Wilbur May Lake is about a mile off. For climbing, Convict Lake & McGee Creek lies about 5.6 miles away, and Vermillion campground is about 8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Edison Ferry Pickup

    Campground

    Campground · 5.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Iva Bell Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mammoth Lakes

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Olive Lake

    Best months: June–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° / 13°

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

    3. Mar

      42° / 15°

    4. Apr

      45° / 22°

    5. May

      54° / 27°

    6. Jun

      65° / 33°

    7. Jul

      71° / 38°

    8. Aug

      70° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 32°

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

    11. Nov

      47° / 20°

    12. Dec

      40° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 34.1 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Peter Pande LakePhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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McGee Pass TrailPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Convict CreekPhoto: Hike395 (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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John Muir TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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LEE LAKEPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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