Sciaroni
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.7 mi
- round trip
- 379 ft
- climb
- 3,655 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Sciaroni 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.
Sciaroni is an easy out-and-back hike in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Placerville Ranger District. The trail is about 1.7 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 379 feet, taking you from a low point of about 3,245 feet to a high of about 3,655 feet. The route is on natural surface, and the Forest Service allows both horses and bikes. It is open year-round, and the nearest town is Placerville. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Pacific House show May highs around 72°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August average about 90°F. Two other hikes, Camp Creek and Fleming Meadow Loop, both lie about 0.3 miles away. Sly Guard Cabin, a campground, is about 2.8 miles off, and the North Fork Cosumnes River, a canoeing route, is about 4.4 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Sciaroni
Best months: March–June and September–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.
Jan
44° / 32°
12 wet
Feb
50° / 31°
12 wet
Mar
56° / 33°
12 wet
Apr
63° / 36°
9 wet
May
72° / 42°
7 wet
Jun
82° / 47°
3 wet
Jul
90° / 53°
1 wet
Aug
89° / 52°
1 wet
Sep
83° / 49°
2 wet
Oct
66° / 41°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 35°
9 wet
Dec
43° / 31°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pacific House, CA, 4.3 mi away at 3,450 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
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Fleming Meadow Loop
Next door
7.04-mile loop trail in California with 1,009 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Jenkinson Lake Loop
~4 min drive
2.1-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Jenkinson Lake with 1,702 ft elevation gain.
Stumpy Meadows Trail
~24 min drive
2.84-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,423 ft elevation gain
Jenkinson Lake Loop
~2 min drive
3.28-mile out-and-back out-and-back with 2,700 ft gain in California
Big Hill Trail
~18 min drive
1.54-mile out-and-back trail in California with 475 ft elevation gain
Fleming Meadow Loop
~1 min drive
4.42-mile out-and-back trail in California with 500 ft gain
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Jenkinson Lake Loop
~3 min drive
3.42-mile out-and-back out-and-back with 1,956 ft gain at 3,643 ft elevation in California
West Shoreline Trail
~24 min drive
0.86-mile out-and-back trail in California with 437 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Diamond R.R. Trail
~12 min drive
3.14-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,146 ft elevation gain
HIKE
UNION VALLEY BIKE TRAIL
~24 min drive
2.12-mile out-and-back bike trail in California with 376 ft elevation gain