McGee Creek Trailhead
Trailhead · Mammoth Lakes corridor
McGee Creek Trailhead sits at 7894 feet in the Mammoth Lakes corridor of the Sierra Nevada, offering direct access to the McGee Creek drainage. Typically calmer than the exposed ridges above but windier than sheltered valleys to the west.
Wind accelerates through the afternoon as thermals build and funnels down the creek canyon; mornings are noticeably gentler. The 30-day average wind runs 11 mph, but gusts routinely reach the low-to-mid 20s by mid-day. Visit early or plan for sustained wind.
Over the last 30 days, McGee Creek Trailhead averaged a NoGo Score of 13.0 with temperatures around 39 degrees Fahrenheit and an average wind speed of 11 mph. The week ahead will show typical spring volatility; crowding remains light to moderate. Check morning conditions before committing to a midday push.
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About McGee Creek Trailhead
McGee Creek Trailhead is the primary jumping-off point for the McGee Creek drainage and lies on the east side of the Mammoth Lakes corridor at 7894 feet elevation. Access via Highway 395, turning west at McGee Creek Road south of Mammoth Lakes village; the trailhead parking lot sits roughly 10 miles from the highway junction. The location serves hikers, backpackers, and climbers heading into the Sierra high country, including routes toward Convict Lake and the Bishop Pass area. Parking is first-come, first-served and fills quickly on weekends and holidays.
Weather at McGee Creek Trailhead is driven by canyon and ridge dynamics. The 30-day average temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit reflects the elevation and season; the 365-day range (15 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit) shows the full swing from winter to summer. Wind is the defining feature: the 30-day average of 11 mph masks a strong afternoon pattern, with max gusts hitting 27 mph. Late spring and early summer see the most volatile wind, while early mornings are consistently calmer. Crowding averages 8.0 on the rolling 30-day window, moderate by Sierra standards, and peaks on weekends and holiday periods.
McGee Creek Trailhead suits high-elevation hikers and backpackers comfortable with exposure and afternoon wind. The typical visitor is a valley-based day-hiker or overnighter staging a Sierra crossing. Experienced users plan around the wind by starting before dawn, avoiding the trailhead after 10 a.m. in spring and early summer, and checking the parking lot status before the drive. The low elevation relative to high passes nearby (Kearsarge Pass, Bishop Pass) makes McGee Creek a training route and an alternative when higher passes are snowbound. Water is available year-round from the creek; no services exist at the trailhead itself.
Nearby alternatives include Convict Lake Trailhead and Tamarack Lake Trailhead, both within 30 minutes' drive and offering similar access to the high Sierra. Convict Lake sits at a lower elevation and tends to be less windy in afternoon hours. The Mammoth Lakes corridor as a whole offers dozens of trailheads; McGee Creek is favored by those heading south and east into the Bishop area peaks and passes. In winter and early spring, snowpack often blocks the upper reaches; confirm conditions with the local ranger station before planning a high-pass crossing.