Note: Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) trail grooming has started on the High Sierra Ranger District.
Current Condition: Most trails have approximately 2 to 3 feet of snow in higher elevations with deeper pockets, while the trails in lower elevations and high sun exposure are melting quickly. On the day of grooming, the snow was frozen solid in the morning but softening quickly. While most if not all the groomed areas are low avalanche risk terrain, keep avalanche threat in your trip planning, especially those traveling off groomed trails. The snowpack is most likely consolidating but be on the lookout for unstable areas. Pinwheels were observed on many steep slopes. Pinwheels are an indicator that the snow surface is losing strength, which is the precursor to wet loose avalanches which can quickly become very difficult to manage.
To see a listing of trails that are closed please refer to: Forest Orders in Alerts and Notices
SNOW CONDITIONS: New Snow
Trail Name
Date Groomed
Snow Depth
Condition
Comments
Kaiser Pass Road
01/11/2022
3-5'
Good
Open to White Bark Vista
Mushroom Rock Upper
12/27/2021
3-4'
Good
Mushroom Rock Lower
12/27/2021
3-4'
Good
Dowville
12/27/2022
3-4'
Good
Huntington Lake
01/12/2022
3-4'
Good
To the dam
Bear Butte @ Badger
01/12/2022
3-5'
Tree Down
Bear Butte @ Rancheria Falls Rd
12/28/2021
3-4'
Good
Tree Down
White Bark Vista
01/12/2022
3-5'
Good
Willow Trail
Grouse Creek Huntington Lake
Grouse Creek @168
01/11/2022
3-5'
Good
To Coyote Lake
Big Creek
01/10/2022
3-5'
Midge Creek
China Peak
Edison Lake
Florence Lake
Deer Creek
Stump Springs
Half Corral
Mt. Tom
Brown Cone
Coyote Lake
Red Mountain
Strawberry Lake
Tamarack
01/12/2022
to Bald Tower
Chipmunk
Sunset
Meadow
Red Fir
Bald Mt.
01/12/2022
Foster Ridge
Dinkey Creek
Rock Creek
Snow Corral
Glen Meadow
Stump Springs
Trail Considerations: The Sierra National Forest is working diligently to ensure trails remain groomed on a regular basis, generally grooming is conducted to ensure a good setup overnight when temperatures are still dipping below freezing, and prior to heavier use periods over the weekends.
For more information regarding the snowmobile trails on the Sierra National Forest, please contact the High Sierra Over Snow Vehicle Program at 559-855-5355, ext. 3302
Caution: A concern for members of the public, is to be very cautious using the OSV system. Always be prepared for unexpected and changing condtions.
