Ice Lake
Lake · Yosemite corridor
Ice Lake sits at 9,948 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, a glacially-fed alpine lake ringed by granite. Calmer mornings give way to sustained afternoon wind off the peaks.
Wind dominates here. The 30-day average wind of 15 mph climbs sharply after 11 a.m., often exceeding 20 mph by mid-afternoon. Morning flat spells last until roughly 10 a.m. Cold water and exposure to westerly gusts make this a place where arrival time determines success.
Over the last 30 days, Ice Lake has averaged a NoGo Score of 17 with temperatures around 21 degrees Fahrenheit and average wind of 15 mph. The week ahead will reflect typical spring patterns for this elevation: morning windows narrow as wind ramps, and crowding remains light outside holiday weekends. Watch for the transition from snow to meltwater and peak afternoon gusts.
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About Ice Lake
Ice Lake lies in the eastern Sierra, north of Mono Lake and below the crest of the Yosemite high country. Access is via US Highway 395 to the Tioga Pass corridor or Highway 120 west into Tuolumne County. The nearest roadside gateway is Lee Vining, roughly 50 miles south. The lake sits in a granite basin at nearly 10,000 feet, fed by seasonal snowmelt and exposure to wind funneling off the Sierra crest. Base popularity here is low, attracting hikers and backcountry skiers rather than day-use crowds.
Temperature averages 21 degrees Fahrenheit over a 30-day rolling window, with extremes from 7 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit across the full year. This is a place of thin, cold margins. Morning air is stillest; by mid-afternoon, sustained westerly wind is the norm. The 30-day average wind is 15 mph, but gusts reach 42 mph regularly in spring and early summer. Snowpack lingers until late spring; the lake can remain partially iced into June in heavy snow years. Crowds spike briefly after Highway 120 opens but otherwise remain sparse.
Ice Lake suits hikers seeking isolation and packraft explorers willing to manage afternoon wind and cold water. A 30-day average crowding score of 6 (on a 0 to 100 scale) signals you will rarely encounter more than a handful of people. Plan for morning starts; if you reach the lake after 10 a.m., expect strong wind by noon. Cold-water immersion risk is high. Bring extra layers and a dry exit strategy. The lake's exposure means afternoon conditions can shift from manageable to punishing in 20 minutes.
Nearby Mono Lake, far lower and larger, is windier but more accessible. The Mount Dana cirque basin lies immediately north and offers climbing and scrambling routes on more sheltered terrain. Visitors combining Ice Lake with cross-Sierra traverses often stage through Tioga Pass or Lee Vining. The Yosemite high-country corridor offers dozens of similar alpine lakes; Ice Lake's defining feature is its consistently early wind window closure and isolation.