🌤 Trail Weather — Plan Your Hike
Updated every 6 hrs · Trailhead coords
✅
Good Conditions — Solid Day to Hike
61°F, Scattered Clouds. Wind 8 mph. Standard 10 Essentials apply.
☁️
61°
Scattered Clouds
Feels 58°F
💨 Wind
8 mph E
Gusts to 23 mph
💧 Humidity
21%
Dry — drink before thirsty
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi
Good visibility
☁️ Cloud Cover
31%
Partly cloudy
🌅 Sunrise
6:52 am
Ideal start time
🌇 Sunset
6:34 pm
Off trail by this
Today — 3-Hour Intervals
5 pm
☀️
61°
Feels 58°
💨 8/22
8 pm
🌙
55°
Feels 52°
💨 2/12
11 pm
🌙
43°
Feels 43°
💨 2/11
5-Day Forecast
💧 Humidity
21% Dry — drink before thirsty
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
8% Clear — full sun exposure
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
💧 Humidity
62% Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾
Acceptable — Check Elevation
💧 Humidity
56% Humid — heat feels stronger
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾
Acceptable — Check Elevation
💧 Humidity
53% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾
Acceptable — Check Elevation
💧 Humidity
49% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🥾
Acceptable — Check Elevation
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out.
Oct 4, 4:16 pm
The Eastern Sierra’s most rewarding high-alpine lake progression. Starting at 10,230 feet, this trail strings together five stunning glacial lakes beneath serrated granite ridges.
Trail Overview
The trailhead starts at 10,230 feet. If you drove up from the valley that morning, you will feel it. Give yourself 20 minutes at the car before moving. The lot fills completely by 8am on summer weekends. Weekdays are a completely different experience. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast in summer — start early and be below treeline by 1pm.
This Hike Is For You If…
Hikers comfortable with sustained altitude above 10,000 feet. Strong intermediate hikers will find this moderate. Beginners who have done a few day hikes at sea level should acclimate for a day first.
Skip This Hike If…
Skip if you arrived from sea level the same day. Skip if afternoon thunderstorms are in the forecast and you cannot start before 7am.
What to Expect on Trail
Terrain: Well-maintained packed dirt and granite slabs. No technical sections. Some boulder hopping near upper lakes.
Shade: Mostly Exposed
Water: Reliable Year-Round. Rock Creek alongside trail. Filter recommended.
Views: Outstanding
Crowds: Summer weekends extremely crowded. Weekday mornings manageable.
Dogs: Yes, dogs are welcome on this trail.
Best Arrival: Before 7:30am on weekends. Weekdays you have more flexibility.
This is a Tier 1 sourced review. Trail information is based on published sources and research. Andrew has not personally hiked this trail yet. Photos and firsthand sensory detail will be added when upgraded to Tier 2.
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7.2 miRound Trip
900 ftElev. Gain
ModerateDifficulty
3-5 hoursEst. Time
11100 ftHighest Point
Out-and-BackRoute Type
YesDogs
NonePermit
Trailhead & Logistics
Address: Mosquito Flat Trailhead, Rock Creek Road, Tom's Place, CA 93514
Parking: Large paved lot at Mosquito Flat. Fills by 8am on summer weekends. No fee. Bear boxes on site.
Bathroom: Pit Toilet
Cell Service: None
Best Arrival: Before 7:30am on weekends. Weekdays you have more flexibility.
Trail Reality Check
The trailhead starts at 10,230 feet. If you drove up from the valley that morning, you will feel it. Give yourself 20 minutes at the car before moving. The lot fills completely by 8am on summer weekends. Weekdays are a completely different experience. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast in summer — start early and be below treeline by 1pm.
Terrain: Well-maintained packed dirt and granite slabs. No technical sections. Some boulder hopping near upper lakes.
Shade: Mostly Exposed
Water: Reliable Year-Round — Rock Creek alongside trail. Filter recommended.
Views: Outstanding
Crowds: Very Busy — Summer weekends extremely crowded. Weekday mornings manageable.
Who should do this: Hikers comfortable with sustained altitude above 10,000 feet. Strong intermediate hikers will find this moderate. Beginners who have done a few day hikes at sea level should acclimate for a day first.
Who should skip this: Skip if you arrived from sea level the same day. Skip if afternoon thunderstorms are in the forecast and you cannot start before 7am.
