California · Hiking · Near Shaver Lake

Strawberry Lake

4.7 mi
loop
574 ft
climb
9,056 ft
high point
Loop
route
May–Sep
best months

Is STRAWBERRY LAKE open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name STRAWBERRY LAKE, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Strawberry Lake is an easy, looped hike in California's Sierra National Forest, within the High Sierra Ranger District. The trail is about 4.7 miles long, and it gains about 574 feet in elevation before returning to its starting point. The climb is moderate, with the steepest stretch at about 2.5 miles into the route, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The hike begins at the Sand Flats Trailhead and takes about two hours to complete. It starts at roughly 8,810 feet, with the high point on the route reaching about 9,056 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes run to a high of 78°F and a low of 49°F. That station sits about 1,250 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The Red Mountain hike lies about 1.6 miles away, and Perkins Cutoff is about 1.7 miles away. College campground and Midge Creek Group Campground are both within about 4 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Strawberry Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Buckhorn Bar and Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Shaver Lake

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit STRAWBERRY LAKE

    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, 32.3 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.