California · Hiking

Secret Lake

Secret LakePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.4 mi
round trip
694 ft
climb
7,750 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Secret Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Secret Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Secret Lake is a moderate hike in the Bridgeport Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in California, about 5.4 miles long with a one-way climb of 694 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and leads from a low point of about 7,169 feet to a high of about 7,750 feet. The route is an out-and-back on natural surface, and it is open to both horses and bikes. That makes it a flexible option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. For the most comfortable conditions, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Bridgeport weather station show May highs around 67°F and September highs around 78°F. July is the warmest month, with highs near 85°F, and winter brings snow on several days a month from December through February. Leavitt Meadows Campground and the Leavitt Trail sit about 0.2 miles away, and the West Walker River Trail and the Little Wolf Trail are also close by.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Secret Lake

    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

      43° / 10°

      5 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      45° / 13°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      52° / 20°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 25°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      67° / 32°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      77° / 39°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 43°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 41°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 34°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 24°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 17°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      45° / 12°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bridgeport, CA, 18.2 mi away at 6,470 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Little Wolf TrailPhoto: Capt' Gorgeous, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Chain of LakesPhoto: J Doll, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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West Walker RiverPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Kennedy Lake TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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