California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

Willow Mdw

Willow MdwPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.0 mi
round trip
880 ft
climb
7,919 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Willow Mdw open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Willow Mdw, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Willow Mdw is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 5 miles in California's Stanislaus National Forest, within the Calaveras Ranger District. The trail gains about 880 feet, from a low of 7,080 feet to a high of 7,919 feet. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, Nevada, show July and August highs around 74 to 75°F with only one or two wet days a month. Winter brings highs in the mid-30s and lows near 23°F. The trail is a natural-surface route that allows both horses and bikes. It is open year-round, and the Forest Service manages the surrounding land. Hermit Valley campground and the Deer Creek hike are both about 0.3 miles away. Pacific Valley and Mosquito Lakes campgrounds are within about 2 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Hermit Valley

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lake Alpine Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 12 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 Willow Mdw

    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, 30.4 mi away at 7,334 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Deer CreekPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deer Creek

Next door

1.61-mile out-and-back trail in California with 263 ft gain.

MCCT Mosquito Lakes to Pacific ValleyPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

MCCT Mosquito Lakes to Pacific Valley

~3 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,046 ft gain/loss

Sandy Mdw.Photo: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sandy Mdw.

~4 min drive

7.19-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,000 ft gain.

Deer CreekPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deer Creek

~2 min drive

3.96-mile out-and-back trail in California with 435 ft of elevation gain.

Emigrant TrailPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emigrant Trail

~8 min drive

A 3.20-mile out-and-back trail in California connected to the Mormon Carson Emigrant Trail system.

8N01 SNOW TRAILPhoto: Chris Dolanc (talk · contribs), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

8N01 SNOW TRAIL

~6 min drive

10.2-mile out-and-back snow trail in California with 2,419 ft elevation gain and loss.

Mosquito Lakes to Stanislaus MeadowPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mosquito Lakes to Stanislaus Meadow

~3 min drive

3.08-mile out-and-back trail from Mosquito Lakes to Stanislaus Meadow in California

Pack TrailPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pack Trail

~10 min drive

Pack Trail is a 1.82-mile out-and-back hike in California with 771 ft of elevation gain.

Deer Valley 4Wd TrailPhoto: jturning, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Deer Valley 4Wd Trail

~7 min drive

6.36-mile out-and-back trail in California with 479 ft elevation gain.

Heiser Lake Ext.Photo: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Heiser Lake Ext.

~5 min drive

0.91-mile out-and-back trail to Heiser Lake in California.