Niagra Creek
Campground
Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Carson-Iceberg Wilderness · Near Bear Valley
Sword Lake
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 5.0 mi
- round trip
- 399 ft
- climb
- 6,899 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Sword Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Sword Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Stanislaus National Forest extends seasonal MVUM closure for two high elevation roads
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
Extension of Seasonal Road Closures
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Sword Lake is a 5-mile out-and-back hike in California's Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, within the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest. The trail rises about 400 feet from a low point of 6,490 feet to a high of 6,899 feet, and it is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open year-round. The trail is horse-friendly, and bikes are not allowed. The closest neighbor is Wheats Meadow Trail, just 0.1 mile away, and Burgson Lake is about 0.7 mile off. For a change of pace, Donnell Reservoir offers fishing about 2.5 miles away, and Niagra Creek campground sits roughly 3.4 miles from the trail.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Lake Alpine Resort
Restaurant
On your way back · 8 mi
If it rainsJunkyardsparkle, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)
More in Bear ValleyBest time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Sword 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.
Jan
43° / 18°
9 wet
Feb
43° / 19°
9 wet
Mar
48° / 24°
10 wet
Apr
53° / 28°
8 wet
May
62° / 33°
7 wet
Jun
72° / 38°
3 wet
Jul
80° / 43°
2 wet
Aug
80° / 41°
2 wet
Sep
73° / 35°
3 wet
Oct
62° / 29°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
43° / 18°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 36.5 mi away at 6,314 ft. The station sits about 600 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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