California · Hiking · Ansel Adams Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Rock Creek

7.6 mi
round trip
1,673 ft
climb
8,303 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Rock Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Rock Creek is a hard hike in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs from about 6,600 feet to about 8,300 feet over roughly 7.6 miles. The route is rated hard, and the one-way gain is about 1,670 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs sit around 41°F with lows in the teens. The trail is open to horses but not to bikes, and it is not accessible. Rock Lake lies about a mile away, and Bear Meadow is about 1.9 miles off. Vermillion Campground and the Bear Crag climbing area are both about 7.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Onion Springs Overflow

    Campground

    Campground · 4.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Iva Bell Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 6 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 · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Rock Creek

    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, 15 mi away at 7,804 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.