Sheep Camp
Campground
Campground · 4.1 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Emigrant Wilderness · Near Bear Valley
Whitesides Meadow
Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 3.2 mi
- round trip
- 199 ft
- climb
- 9,010 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Whitesides Meadow open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Whitesides Meadow, 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.
Whitesides Meadow is a 3.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Emigrant Wilderness, part of the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The trail rises from about 8,817 feet to about 9,010 feet, a climb of 199 feet, and is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, and bikes are not permitted. It is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Toejam Lake (20E42) lies about 1.3 miles away, and Willow Meadow is about 2.5 miles off. Summit Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 3.9 miles away, and the Deadman campground is about 6.8 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Last Chance Saloon
Bar
On your way back · 6 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Bear Valley- Toejam Lake (20E42)Hiking1.3 mi
- Willow MeadowHiking2.5 mi
- Summit CreekCanoeing3.9 mi
- Below the Fun HouseRock climbing5.4 mi
- Toller TowerRock climbing5.4 mi
- Eagle CreekCanoeing6.2 mi
- DeadmanCamping6.8 mi
- BakerCamping7.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Long Lake TrailHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Relief ValleyHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: farktronix, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Lake Valley TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: travisreitter, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Crabtree TrailHiking · ~8 min drive
- Wire LakesHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Kennedy LakeHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: farktronix, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
LAKE VALLEYHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Huckleberry TrailHiking · ~9 min drive
- Relief Reservoir TrailHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: farktronix, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Crabtree (Buck Mdw to Emigrt).Hiking · ~8 min drive
Best time to visit Whitesides Meadow
Best months: June–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
41° / 13°
Feb
38° / 12°
Mar
42° / 15°
Apr
45° / 22°
May
54° / 27°
Jun
65° / 33°
Jul
71° / 38°
Aug
70° / 36°
Sep
65° / 32°
Oct
57° / 26°
Nov
47° / 20°
Dec
40° / 12°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 33.7 mi away at 8,694 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
