Central Sierra

Huntington Lake

The higher, quieter side of Shaver: lake views, Rancheria Falls, Kaiser trailheads.

Plan the route

When to go77F day, 49F night

When to go77F day, 49F night7 road flagsUpdated Jul 28

01 · The call

Good with caution

Why now

One of the better months for high lake and kaiser wilderness access here.

Watch out

Rec Site Road Trail Closure Order

Plan B

Keep the trip anchored around Shaver Lake with a shorter loop through Huntington Lake and Kaiser Wilderness.

Why now

One of the better months for high lake and kaiser wilderness access here.

Watch out

Rec Site Road Trail Closure Order

Plan B

Keep the trip anchored around Shaver Lake with a shorter loop through Huntington Lake and Kaiser Wilderness.

02 · The story

Huntington Lake shoreline in the Sierra Nevada.

upper Sierra lake guide

Huntington Lake should not read like Shaver with a different label.

Photo: TrovatoreCC BY-SA 3.0 Source

upper Sierra lake guide

Huntington Lake should not read like Shaver with a different label.

Photo: TrovatoreCC BY-SA 3.0 Source

Field notes

04 · The window

Peak: June-October
Skip: December-April

When to go

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

05 · The conditions

Current weather

77F day, 49F night

0% chance of rain

10 mph wind

Nearest towns: Fresno · Modesto

Updated Jul 28, 2026, 12:10 PM

06 · On the ground

Access

Rec Site Road Trail Closure Order

Before you go

Fee sites are local, not SoCal Adventure Pass
Stock up in the foothills

Road and weather data checked Jul 28, 2026, 12:10 PM

Before you go

Fee sites are local, not SoCal Adventure Pass. Huntington Lake sits in Sierra National Forest. Campgrounds, boat ramps, and some day-use areas may have their own fee or pass rules; do not assume a Southern California Adventure Pass covers this area.

Roads, fire, and closures

Expand

Official alerts

Last checked

07 · Nearby

Pine forest and alpine water near Shaver Lake.

Lakes

Central Sierra

Shaver Lake

Lakes

Eastern Sierra

Mammoth Lakes

Next step

Plan the route

Shaver Lake pine forest and alpine water.

Make it real.

Route it with rest, fuel, and food stops — shaped around the season call above.

Plan the route

Heads up

Cold water and gusty winds. High-country lake water stays cold enough to sap your strength fast, and winds here are inconsistent and gusty.

Winter means snow and chains. Highway 168 stays open to the lake in winter as a snow-play area, which means real snow and ice on the road.

Quiet lake daysUpper Sierra sceneryCabin tripsModerate hikers

03 · Highlights

1

Huntington Lake

2

Lakeshore

Forest and lake access around Huntington Lake.

3

Rancheria Falls

4

Kaiser Wilderness

5

Shaver Lake backup

Selected stop

Rancheria Falls

A short active add-on nearby; use it when the group wants a trail objective without a full wilderness day.

Photo: Don Ramey LoganCC BY-SA 3.0 Source

Short waterfall/trail add-onActive objective near the lakeA trail feel without a full wilderness day

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Peak · June-OctoberShoulder — the in-between monthsSkip · December-April — Skip if you can: Check "Rec Site Road Trail Closure Order" before departure.

Across the park

Temp · Tue 28 · PM

Shaver Lake

78° · 5,370 ft

Big Creek

81° · 4,820 ft

Huntington Lake

73° · 6,950 ft

China Peak

75° · 8,709 ft

Kaiser Pass

65° · 9,184 ft

Kaiser Peak

64° · 10,320 ft

Across the park

About 17° colder up high — Big Creek 81°, Kaiser Peak 64°.

Across the park · by elevation

Temp · wind

81°

78°

73°

75°

65°

64°

Big Creek4,820 ftwind WNW 8 mph

Shaver Lake5,370 ftwind W 9 mph

Huntington Lake6,950 ftwind WSW 9 mph

China Peak8,709 ftwind W 10 mph

Kaiser Pass9,184 ftwind SW 11 mph

Kaiser Peak10,320 ftwind SSW 12 mph

Temp · Tue 28 · PM

Shaver Lake

78° · 5,370 ft

Big Creek

81° · 4,820 ft

Huntington Lake

73° · 6,950 ft

China Peak

75° · 8,709 ft

Kaiser Pass

65° · 9,184 ft

Kaiser Peak

64° · 10,320 ft

Big Creek 81° · Kaiser Peak 64° — colder up high.

Jul 28, 2026, 12:10 PM

Effective through July 27, 2026 allowing for the continuation of repair efforts to respective recreation sites, roads, and trails (supersedes Forest Order No. 05-15-00-25-19). Forest Order: #05-15-00-26-01.

Mar 25, 2026 → —·ModerateUSFS · Forest alert

5-4 is an active wildfire roughly 55 miles from Huntington Lake. Current incident context: Inyo County, 1,318 acres. null Miles null from null,

Jul 25, 2026 → —·ModerateWFIGS · Wildfire incident

ROCK is an active wildfire roughly 58 miles from Huntington Lake. Current incident context: Inyo County, 12,008 acres, 62% contained. 10 Miles N from Independence, CA

Jul 20, 2026 → —·ModerateWFIGS · Wildfire incident

Current conditions update from Sierra National Forest.

Now → —·MinorUSFS · Forest condition

Current conditions update from Sierra National Forest.

Now → —·MinorUSFS · Forest condition

Current conditions update from Sierra National Forest.

Now → —·MinorUSFS · Forest condition

5-3 is an active wildfire roughly 54 miles from Huntington Lake. Current incident context: Inyo County, 744 acres. null Miles null from null,

Jul 25, 2026 → —·MinorWFIGS · Wildfire incident

Tunnel View looking across Yosemite Valley toward El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall.

Sierra

Sierra Nevada

Yosemite Valley