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Skelton Lake (27889599141)

Hike

Emerald Lake-Skelton Lake

Ends at Skelton Lake
Inside Inyo National Forest
Camp under a mile away

3.3 mi out & back · 948 ft gain · 9,992 ft high point · Moderate

From Emerald Lake Trailhead via Coldwater CG to Lake George (0.5 mi)

In Inyo National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Emerald Lake-Skelton Lake is an out-and-back from Emerald Lake Trailhead to Skelton Lake in Inyo National Forest, climbing 948 feet to 9,992 feet.

Elevation

948 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

0.6 mi from the trailhead
Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

5 mi from you
Fish Creek
- Ends at Rainbow Falls
- Inside Ansel Adams Wilderness
- 4,455 ft of climbing
19.3 mi one way · 4,455 ft gain · Very hard
Ansel Adams Wilderness · Camp 3 mi away

Out: 860 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Skelton LakeDestination · 1.7 mi in
Arrowhead LakeNearby · 1.5 mi in

Nearby reading

Herlihy Peak

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 3.3 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 948 ft round trip
High point: 9,992 ft
Low point: 9,119 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 3.3 mi and 948 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 21
Start: Emerald Lake Trailhead
Trailhead: 37.5915° N · 118.9908° W

Get directions Open the map

1.4 mi from the trailhead

Lake Mary Campground

Campground

1.9 mi from the trailhead

Twin Lakes Campground

Campground · California

23 mi from you

Bernice Lake Trail

Ends at Bernice Lake
Inside Yosemite National Park
3,676 ft of climbing

21.8 mi out & back · 3,676 ft gain · Very hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

John Muir Trail

Summits Mount Whitney
Inside Yosemite National Park
49,977 ft of climbing

208.9 mi one way · 49,977 ft gain · Very hard

Yosemite National Park · Camp under a mile away

Beck Lakes Trail

Ends at Lower Beck Lake
Inside Devils Postpile National Monument
3,619 ft of climbing

14.7 mi out & back · 3,619 ft gain · Very hard

Devils Postpile National Monument · Camp 1 mi away

John Muir

Ends at Thousand Island Lake
Inside Devils Postpile National Monument
4,241 ft of climbing

12.6 mi one way · 4,241 ft gain · Very hard

Devils Postpile National Monument · Camp 1 mi away

Minnow Creek

Ends at Lake of the Lone Indian
Inside John Muir Wilderness
4,410 ft of climbing

20.1 mi out & back · 4,410 ft gain · Very hard

John Muir Wilderness · Camp 5 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Garnet Lake to Emerald Lake
- Ends at Emerald Lake
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- 3,600 ft of climbing
16.0 mi out & back · 3,600 ft gain · Very hard
Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Emerald Lake
- Ends at Emerald Lakes
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- 2,278 ft of climbing
8.5 mi out & back · 2,278 ft gain · Hard
Inyo National Forest · Camp 2 mi away
SKY Meadows
- Near Arrowhead Lake
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- 1,052 ft of climbing
3.6 mi out & back · 1,052 ft gain · Moderate
Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away
River Trail
- Near Emerald Lake
- Inside Inyo National Forest
- 2,746 ft of climbing
14.3 mi out & back · 2,746 ft gain · Very hard
Inyo National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Signal

Cell coverage here

AT&TLTE · Poor
T-Mobile5G · Excellent

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain

Weather

7-day forecast

Wed46°28°Mostly Sunny
Thu43°28°Mostly Cloudy
Fri37°24°Slight Chance Light Snow
Sat36°23°Chance Light Snow
Sun34°21°Chance Light Snow
Mon43°29°Sunny
Tue45°Mostly Sunny

Wed: Mostly Sunny · wind 10 to 15 mph SW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly