California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Second Recess

3.1 mi
round trip
604 ft
climb
9,135 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Second Recess open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Second Recess is a 3.1-mile out-and-back hike in the John Muir Wilderness, part of the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail lies within designated wilderness. The route gains about 600 feet, from roughly 8,500 to 9,100 feet. It is a moderate hike on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The trail is not accessible. 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. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Laurel Lake is about 0.4 miles away and Mono Creek about 0.9 miles. The Sierra Eastside climbing area is about 1.9 miles off, and Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground is about 6 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Edison Ferry Pickup

    Campground

    Campground · 4.8 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Iva Bell Hot Springs

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 12 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 Second Recess

    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, 16.4 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Third Recess LakePhoto: feverblue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Third Recess Lake

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Hopkins Pass TrailPhoto: Miguel Vieira from Redwood City, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hopkins Pass Trail

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Golden LakePhoto: feverblue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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