California · Hiking · Desolation Wilderness · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Schmidell

SchmidellPhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.8 mi
round trip
185 ft
climb
7,594 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Schmidell open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Schmidell is an easy, short out-and-back hike in the Desolation Wilderness, part of the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California. The route is 1.8 miles long, with an elevation gain of 185 feet, and it reaches a high point of 7,594 feet. The trail lies within designated wilderness, and it sits on natural surface rather than a developed path. Bikes are not allowed, so plan on walking both ways. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Dagget Pass weather station, about 16 miles away, show July highs near 75°F with lows around 49°F and only about one or two wet days a month. Winter there averages highs in the mid-30s. Other outings start close by. Mcconnell Lake Loop is about 0.7 miles away, and Velma is about 0.8 miles away. Majong Boulder, a climbing area, is about 2.8 miles off, and Bayview Campground is about 5.2 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Fontanillis Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Schmidell

    Best months: May–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

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 16.6 mi away at 7,334 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

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HIKE

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