California · Hiking · Near Mammoth Lakes

Starkweather

StarkweatherPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.0 mi
round trip
1,167 ft
climb
9,176 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Starkweather 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.

Starkweather is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 5 miles in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail climbs roughly 1,167 feet from a low of about 8,000 feet to a high of about 9,176 feet. The trail is natural-surface, and the route is not accessible. Bikes are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F. That station sits well below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. The Minaret Vista Trail starts just 0.1 mile away. Soda Springs Campground and Pumice Flat Group Camp are both about a mile off. The Middle Fork San Joaquin River, about 3 miles away, offers paddling.

Around this trail

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

    Soda Springs Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Outpost 14

    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 Starkweather

    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, 5.3 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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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