California · Hiking · Dinkey Lakes Wilderness · Near Shaver Lake

Rainbow

0.7 mi
round trip
169 ft
climb
9,406 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Rainbow open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Rainbow is a 0.74-mile out-and-back hike in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated hard. The route starts at about 9,218 feet and climbs roughly 169 feet to reach 9,406 feet. It is a natural-surface trail, not accessible, and bikes are not allowed. That makes it a short, steep outing suited to a day of exploring the surrounding wilderness. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes put July highs around 78°F and lows near 49°F, but that station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on this route run cooler. Mystery Lake is just 0.2 miles away, and Helms Meadow lies about 0.8 miles off. Climbers can head to the Western Sierra area, about 2.4 miles away, and the Dinkey campground is roughly 7 miles away.

Around this trail

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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 Rainbow

    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, 34.4 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.