Fourth Recess Lake
Lake · 10,137 ft · Mammoth Lakes corridor
Fourth Recess Lake sits at 10,137 feet in the high Sierra east of Mammoth Lakes, a glacially-carved basin prone to afternoon wind and exposure to the west-facing slope.
Wind accelerates off the open water by mid-afternoon, funneling down the drainage. Morning calm is reliable but brief; by 1 p.m. expect sustained gusts. The lake's orientation and elevation make it windier than lower Recess Lakes to the south.
Over the past 30 days, the 30-day average wind here has been 13 mph, with peaks near 39 mph. Temperatures average 18 F at elevation. Plan around the typical spring pattern: stable early mornings, deteriorating conditions by midday. The week ahead follows that rhythm.
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About Fourth Recess Lake
Fourth Recess Lake occupies a rocky cirque in the Recess Lakes basin, a cluster of glacial lakes drained by Recess Creek. It lies on the east side of the Sierra crest, accessed via the Mammoth Lakes corridor on U.S. Highway 395. The main trailhead is near Mammoth Lakes village; drive time from town is under 30 minutes to the parking area. The lake sits northeast of Recess Lakes proper and is fed by seasonal snowmelt and snowpack above 10,000 feet. Winter approach requires avalanche awareness; the basin has terrain suitable for wet-slab instability during spring consolidation.
Conditions here track a sharp diurnal cycle driven by exposure to the open slope. The 30-day average wind is 13 mph, but afternoon gusts routinely exceed 20 mph as thermals rise and flow downslope. Temperatures average 18 F across the rolling month, with extremes from 4 F to 31 F across the full year. Spring and early summer see the widest temperature swings. Crowding averages 4 out of 10 at this elevation; the lake draws fewer visitors than popular lower-elevation destinations but sees uptick during calm weekend mornings when word spreads.
Fourth Recess Lake suits paddlers and hikers willing to start early and accept harsh midday conditions. Experienced backcountry users plan for a short stable window, typically before 10 a.m., then retreat or hunker down. The basin has limited shelter from wind; exposed campsites are the norm. Parking fills on clear Saturdays; arrive before dawn or plan a weekday trip. Avalanche terrain above the lake demands current snowpack assessment in spring. The rocky shore and cold water make this a location for prepared paddlers, not casual swimmers.
Recess Creek drains multiple lakes in stacked elevation; Lower Recess and Middle Recess sit lower and warmer but see heavier traffic. Duck Lake, also in the basin, offers a slightly more protected alternative. The Mammoth Lakes corridor has year-round highway access via U.S. 395; closure risk is minimal except for extreme winter storms. Nearby Yosemite access via Highway 120 can affect weekend crowding patterns regionally, pulling users away or toward this drainage depending on conditions.