California · Hiking · Near Yosemite Valley

Shell Lake

Shell LakePhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.8 mi
round trip
11 ft
climb
9,858 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Shell Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

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

Shell Lake is a short hike in the Mono Lake Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, about 0.8 miles from Junction Campground and managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a total climb of about 17 feet, so it's a quick walk rather than a steep route. The natural-surface path is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 71°F in July to about 65°F in September, with lows in the upper 30s. Junction Campground is the closest place to camp, and the Bennetville Loop Trail and Gardisky Lake Trail are both within a mile. Tioga Lake Campground is about 0.9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Junction Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Tuolumne Meadows Grill

    Fast food

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • If it rainsEeekster, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sierra Point

    Viewpoint

    In town

    Point in Yosemite National Park at the eastern end of the valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Yosemite Valley

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Shell Lake

    Best months: June–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° / 13°

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

    3. Mar

      42° / 15°

    4. Apr

      45° / 22°

    5. May

      54° / 27°

    6. Jun

      65° / 33°

    7. Jul

      71° / 38°

    8. Aug

      70° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 32°

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

    11. Nov

      47° / 20°

    12. Dec

      40° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 6.2 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.

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