Cole Creek Camping Area
Campground
Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley
Salt Sprs. Overlook
- 2.2 mi
- round trip
- 1,619 ft
- climb
- 6,205 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is SALT SPRS. OVERLOOK open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · Order 03-24-05 · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
SALT SPRS. OVERLOOK is a 4.3-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,619 feet of elevation gain and loss. The route reaches a maximum elevation of 6,205 feet.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Blue Bear Cafe
Restaurant
On your way back · 10 mi
If it rainsJunkyardsparkle, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)
More in Bear ValleyLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions46 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Gamma QuadrantRock climbing0.5 mi
- Alpha QuadrantRock climbing0.6 mi
Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)CampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.8 mi
South Shore CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain1.5 mi- Cole Creek LoopCross-country skiing1.6 mi
- Salt Springs ReservoirHiking1.8 mi
- Cole CreekCanoeing2.6 mi
- Bear RiverCanoeing2.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
CANYON CROSSINGHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Grouse ValleyHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: tpeters11, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- COLE CREEK LOOPHiking · ~3 min drive
- TanglefootHiking · ~4 min drive
Bear Trap BasinHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Long Valley TrailHiking · ~12 min drive
- SUGARPINE LOOPHiking · ~7 min drive
- Munson BypassHiking · ~13 min drive
GannsHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: Ouno, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Camp Irene TrailHiking · ~16 min drive
Best time to visit SALT SPRS. OVERLOOK
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.
Jan
43° / 18°
9 wet
Feb
43° / 19°
9 wet
Mar
48° / 24°
10 wet
Apr
53° / 28°
8 wet
May
62° / 33°
7 wet
Jun
72° / 38°
3 wet
Jul
80° / 43°
2 wet
Aug
80° / 41°
2 wet
Sep
73° / 35°
3 wet
Oct
62° / 29°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
43° / 18°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 28.2 mi away at 6,314 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide
Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service
