California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

Shealor Lake

Shealor LakePhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.9 mi
round trip
238 ft
climb
7,692 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Shealor Lake 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.

Shealor Lake is a short, easy hike in the Amador Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.9 miles long and rises roughly 240 feet from a low point of 7,443 feet to a high of 7,692 feet, making it an out-and-back route that fits easily into a day spent exploring the surrounding area. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, Nevada, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 49°F and only about two wet days in the month. Winter is much colder, with January highs in the mid-30s. The Shealor Lake Trailhead is the starting point, and the trail is open year-round. Climbers can find Old Camp Bluff about a mile away and Emigrant Wall just beyond it. Granite Lake is a hike about 1.2 miles off, and Silver Lake Campground sits about 1.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Ridge Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Kit Carson Restaurant

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 19 mi from Bear Valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bear Valley

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Shealor Lake

    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, 25.9 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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

SHEALOR LAKEPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

SHEALOR LAKE

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Granite LakePhoto: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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HIKE

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East Silver LakePhoto: sarahstierch, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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MinkaloPhoto: sarahstierch, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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GRANITE LAKEPhoto: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

GRANITE LAKE

~3 min drive

2.54-mile out-and-back hike to Granite Lake in California with 746 ft gain.

THUNDER MOUNTAIN LOOPPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

THUNDER MOUNTAIN LOOP

~4 min drive

3.26-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,526 ft elevation gain.

Emigrant LakePhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emigrant Lake

~9 min drive

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