California · Hiking · Emigrant Wilderness · Near Bear Valley

Willow Meadow

1.4 mi
round trip
150 ft
climb
8,765 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Willow Meadow open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Willow Meadow, 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 Meadow is an easy hike of about 1.4 miles in the Emigrant Wilderness, part of the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a short out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 150 feet, from a low point of roughly 8,600 feet to a high of about 8,765 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Burst Rock, a mountain biking spot, is about half a mile away, and Chewing Gum Lake Trail is about 1.3 miles off. Climbers can head to Below the Fun House, about 3.1 miles away, and Herring Creek campground is about 6.7 miles away.

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More in Bear Valley
  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Willow 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.

    1. Jan

      41° / 13°

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

    3. Mar

      42° / 15°

    4. Apr

      45° / 22°

    5. May

      54° / 27°

    6. Jun

      65° / 33°

    7. Jul

      71° / 38°

    8. Aug

      70° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 32°

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

    11. Nov

      47° / 20°

    12. Dec

      40° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 34.5 mi away at 8,694 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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