Lake Davis Trail
Trailhead · North Sierra corridor
Lake Davis Trail sits at 5892 feet in the North Sierra, a high-elevation trailhead near Portola with steady afternoon wind. Best visited on calm mornings before the lake-funnel breeze picks up.
Morning light reaches the water by mid-morning; wind funnels off the lake by mid-afternoon. The 30-day average wind is 9 mph, but gusts climb to 18 mph by day's end. Head here early if you're paddling or fishing. Skip the afternoon if wind matters.
The 30-day rolling average wind of 9 mph is typical for this elevation and exposure. Temperature has averaged 41 degrees Fahrenheit over the last month, with a 30-day score averaging 14 (scale 0 to 100, where lower is better for visitation). The week ahead should track close to that pattern. Watch for afternoon wind spike and plan accordingly.
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About Lake Davis Trail
Lake Davis Trail is a North Sierra trailhead at 5892 feet on the western flank of the Sierra Nevada crest, roughly 90 minutes northeast of Sacramento via Highway 70 and local roads into Portola. The lake itself sits in a high, open basin with minimal tree shelter; the eastern shore opens to ridge-top exposure. Access is straightforward from Portola: head east on County Road A21, then follow Forest Service roads to the trailhead parking area. The drive is all-season passable, though late-winter snow can linger in the parking lot into early spring.
Conditions here are defined by elevation and exposure. The 30-day average temperature of 41 degrees reflects the high-Sierra climate; the year-round range spans a minimum of 24 degrees in winter to a maximum of 59 degrees in summer. Wind is the dominant factor. The 30-day average wind of 9 mph masks a sharper pattern: calm mornings give way to afternoon funneling off the open water, with gusts reaching 18 mph. Spring and early summer (April through June) see the strongest afternoon thermals. Late September through October offer calmer overall conditions, with cooler temperatures and lighter wind. Crowding averages 9 on the 30-day window, peaking on weekends in summer and dropping sharply in shoulder seasons.
Lake Davis Trail suits kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, anglers, and hikers seeking alpine water access without technical terrain. Experienced visitors plan morning launches to catch flat water before the afternoon blow. The parking area is small and fills on sunny weekends; arrive before 8 a.m. or plan a weekday visit. Water temperature stays cold year-round (typically in the 40s even in summer), so immersion gear is mandatory. Snowpack clears the trailhead by late May in most years, but ice can linger in protected coves into early June.
Lake Davis is one of a trio of high-Sierra reservoirs in the North Sierra corridor; Frenchman Lake and Antelope Lake lie south and east. Lake Davis tends calmer in early morning and more exposed by afternoon than the sheltered inlets of Frenchman. For those seeking lower-elevation water with gentler afternoon wind, Lower Bucks Lake (2 hours south) offers warmer temperatures and more tree shelter but sits in a more crowded weekend draw.