California · Hiking · Near Mammoth Lakes

Sherwin Lakes

Sherwin LakesPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.8 mi
round trip
81 ft
climb
7,888 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Sherwin Lakes 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.

Sherwin Lakes is an easy hike of about 0.8 miles in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a low point of about 7,796 feet and a high of about 7,888 feet, so the climb is gentle, with only about 80 feet of elevation gain one way. 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, while winter highs sit around 41°F with lows in the teens. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Sherwin Creek campground is about half a mile away, and Mammoth Rock Trail is about 0.7 miles off. Climbers can head to Aspen Boulder, about 0.8 miles away, and paddlers to Mammoth Creek, about 0.9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Sherwin Creek

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Dos Alas Cubarican Cafe & Lounge

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 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 Sherwin Lakes

    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, 1.8 mi away at 7,804 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

SHERWIN LAKESPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

SHERWIN LAKES

Next door

5.14-mile out-and-back trail to Sherwin Lakes in California with 1,478 ft gain

Indian Caves VisPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Indian Caves Vis

~1 min drive

0.76-mile out-and-back trail to Indian Caves in California.

A-SAWMILL CUTOFF SMPhoto: Kitt O'Malley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

A-SAWMILL CUTOFF SM

~4 min drive

15.08-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,621 ft elevation gain/loss.

HIKE

LAUREL MOUNTAIN TRAIL

~4 min drive

16.92-mile out-and-back trail in California with 5,485 ft gain/loss and 10,053 ft max elevation

MEADOW TRAIL CONNECTORPhoto: Perfect Zero, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

MEADOW TRAIL CONNECTOR

~2 min drive

3.21-mile loop trail in California with 1,180 ft elevation gain and loss.

Mammoth Rock Trail ConnectorPhoto: Perfect Zero, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mammoth Rock Trail Connector

~2 min drive

3.36-mile out-and-back trail in California with 811 ft elevation gain and loss.

Duck PassPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Duck Pass

~6 min drive

7.22-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,154 ft gain.

Coldwater Campground to Lake George TrailPhoto: Hike395 (talk · contribs), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coldwater Campground to Lake George Trail

~6 min drive

4.66-mile out-and-back hike from Coldwater Campground to Lake George in California.

Valentine LakePhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Valentine Lake

~2 min drive

0.23-mile out-and-back trail to Valentine Lake in California.

LAUREL LAKE TO EDITH LAKEPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

LAUREL LAKE TO EDITH LAKE

~7 min drive

8.5-mile out-and-back hike from Laurel Lake to Edith Lake in California