Tuolumne Canyon
Photo: Nerds For Nature, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 10.5 mi
- round trip
- 662 ft
- climb
- 1,533 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Tuolumne Canyon open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Tuolumne Canyon, 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.
Tuolumne Canyon is a 10.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Groveland Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail runs on natural ground. The trip rises about 662 feet from a low point of 1,228 feet to a high of 1,533 feet, and it is rated hard. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Groveland show May highs around 73°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average about 91°F. That station sits roughly 1,267 feet lower than the canyon, so temperatures up high run cooler. The trail is open to both horses and bikes. Campgrounds sit right along the way: Lumsden is about 0.6 miles away, and South Fork is about 0.9 miles away. The Golden Stairs Trail lies about 1.8 miles off, and paddlers can reach the South Fork Tuolumne River about 9.6 miles away.
Best time to go · Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Tuolumne Canyon
Best months: February–June and September–November. 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
53° / 31°
10 wet
Feb
55° / 32°
9 wet
Mar
60° / 35°
10 wet
Apr
65° / 38°
7 wet
May
73° / 44°
4 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
91° / 56°
0 wet
Aug
91° / 55°
1 wet
Sep
85° / 50°
2 wet
Oct
74° / 42°
4 wet
Nov
60° / 35°
8 wet
Dec
52° / 31°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Groveland 2, CA, 9 mi away at 2,800 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Golden Stairs Trail
~3 min drive
3.8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,056 ft elevation gain
Photo: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)L.G.C.F. Falls Interperative T
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Photo: VeloSteve, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Hamby
~7 min drive
6.20-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,676 ft gain.
Photo: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Golden Forest Interp. Trail
~4 min drive
3.08-mile out-and-back hike in California with 402 ft gain.
Photo: paulinkenbrandt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Pilot Ridge
~4 min drive
0.8-mile out-and-back trail at Pilot Ridge in California with 392 ft of elevation gain.
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N. Fork Merced River (Lower)
~11 min drive
11.44-mile out-and-back trail on the North Fork Merced River in California.
Photo: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Railroad, South Fork Tuolumne
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3.12-mile out-and-back trail with 1,038 ft gain in California.
Photo: Elaine with Grey Cats, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Carlon Falls Trail
~19 min drive
1.46-mile out-and-back hike in California with 136 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Andresen Mine
~11 min drive
9.74-mile out-and-back trail in California with 5,379 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Grapevine
~10 min drive
Grapevine is a 5.13-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,421 feet of elevation gain.
