California · Hiking · Mokelumne Wilderness · Near Bear Valley

Summit City

Summit CityPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.4 mi
round trip
1,375 ft
climb
8,870 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Summit City open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Carson Ranger District. It doesn't name Summit City, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Carson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Summit City is a hard hike of about 6.4 miles in the Mokelumne Wilderness, part of the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in California. The trail is a natural-surface out-and-back, and the Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The route gains about 1,375 feet, starting at roughly 7,483 feet and reaching a high point of about 8,870 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass put July highs around 75°F and lows near 49°F, and the trail sits higher than that station, so expect it to run a little cooler. Horses are allowed on the trail. The Elephant's Graveyard and Green Wall Cliff climbing areas sit less than a mile away. Camp Irene Trail and Woods Lake Campground are within about 3 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Lost Campings

    Campground

    Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 10 mi from Bear Valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bear Valley

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Summit City

    Best months: May–October. 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

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 22.3 mi away at 7,334 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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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