Grouse Lake–Upper Blue Lake, 3 lakes
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,491 ft · 5 hr 1 min
Grouse Lake–Upper Blue Lake, 3 lakes is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in Mokelumne Wilderness near Shay Creek Summer Home Area, CA. The route passes Upper Blue Lake before reaching Grouse Lake at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 2,491 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Grouse Lake–Upper Blue Lake, 3 lakes
11.3 mi · ▲ 2,491 ft · 5 hr 1 min
Elevation 8,119–9,284 ft
Out & Back · Mokelumne Wilderness
Trailhead: 38.62913, -119.93875
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:46 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Upper Blue Lake.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Grouse Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 5.5 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miReach Grouse Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 5.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.6 mi in (~150 min). Leave by 4:12 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Deadwood Peak–Upper Blue Lake, 3 summits 9.6 mi · ▲ 2,173 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Shay Creek Summer Home Area, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Shay Creek Summer Home Area, California