California · Hiking · Emigrant Wilderness

Snow Lake

2.0 mi
round trip
103 ft
climb
9,464 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Snow Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Snow Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Snow Lake is an easy, 2-mile out-and-back hike in the Emigrant Wilderness, part of the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface makes it a straightforward walk for anyone heading into the backcountry. The route climbs about 100 feet from a low point of 9,357 feet to a high of 9,464 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows put July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The trail is open to horses, and bikes are not allowed. Kendrick Creek Trail and Grizzly Meadow lie within a mile, and High Emigrant Lake is about 1.2 miles away. Tower Peak, a climbing area, sits roughly 4.7 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Snow 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, 25.8 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 800 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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