Cloverleaf Lake
Lake · 10,341 ft · Mammoth Lakes corridor
Cloverleaf Lake sits at 10,341 feet in the Mammoth Lakes corridor, a high-Sierra cirque lake exposed to afternoon wind and afternoon thermal flows. Colder and windier than lower valley lakes.
Afternoon wind is the signature pattern. Morning calm typically gives way to sustained 15 mph gusts by mid-day, with occasional peaks to 43 mph. The lake's cirque exposure channels wind off the peaks. Plan paddle or fishing for early hours; expect chop after 11 a.m.
Over the last 30 days, Cloverleaf Lake averaged 15 mph wind and a NoGo score of 37, with a low of 6 and a high of 65. Temperature averaged 23 degrees Fahrenheit. The coming week looks typical for late April in the high Sierra: expect continued afternoon wind and variable crowding as snow access roads open incrementally.
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About Cloverleaf Lake
Cloverleaf Lake sits in a glacially-carved cirque basin at 10,341 feet in California's Sierra Nevada, part of the Mammoth Lakes high-country cluster. Access via Highway 395 to Mammoth Lakes, then via Mammoth Lakes Road and the Lakes Basin trailhead approach. The lake drains into the Mammoth Creek drainage and sits surrounded by 11,000-foot ridges that focus wind into the basin. The drive from US 395 takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on road conditions and seasonal closures. Snow typically blocks full access until late April or early May.
Weather at Cloverleaf Lake is dominated by afternoon thermal wind. The 30-day average wind of 15 mph understates the daily swing: mornings often register below 5 mph, while afternoons routinely exceed 25 mph. Temperatures average 23 degrees Fahrenheit across the 30-day window, with a year-round range from 10 to 36 degrees. The lake sits above tree line in open terrain, offering no sheltering forest. Crowding averages 4 on the NoGo scale, a low-use lake outside peak season. Late April through early June sees the most variable conditions as snow recedes and seasonal wind patterns establish; July through September are calmer and warmer but see marginal crowding increases.
Cloverleaf Lake suits hikers, backpackers, and alpine-lake photographers willing to time morning windows or tolerate afternoon chop. Fishing (principally cutthroat) draws a small core of visitors. The lake's high elevation and cirque exposure make it unsuitable for paddling or boating during typical afternoon wind hours; kayakers and canoeists should plan a dawn launch or skip the day entirely. Parties planning overnight trips must carry all water and camp gear above the lake; no established camps exist at the shore. Avalanche terrain adjoins the basin on the north and east aspects; winter and early-spring approaches require snowpack assessment and awareness of wind-slab formation on higher ridges feeding into the cirque.
The Mammoth Lakes corridor offers multiple alternatives within an hour's drive. Arrowhead Lake and Skelton Lake to the south sit slightly lower and offer marginally calmer afternoon conditions. Lakes Village and the town of Mammoth Lakes provide services, fuel, and lodging. Hikers seeking lower-elevation, less-windy alpine lakes should consider the Cathedral Lakes system or the Inyo National Forest drainages to the west. Cloverleaf's defining trait is its isolation and minimal crowding, paired with the price of high-Sierra exposure and wind.