Silver Knob
Peak · 5,351 ft · Yosemite corridor
Silver Knob is a 5,351-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. Set in avalanche terrain above the high-country lakes, it rewards early ascents before afternoon wind and crowds arrive.
Silver Knob sits exposed to westerly flow funneling through the Sierra crest. Mornings stay calm; wind picks up by mid-afternoon and can exceed 15 mph. Temperature swings 15 to 20 degrees between base and summit. Snow persists into late spring; avalanche hazard requires current assessment.
Over the last 30 days, Silver Knob has averaged a NoGo Score of 33, with wind averaging 7 mph but gusting to 20 mph on bad days. The week ahead will follow the same pattern: morning windows before midday heating drives wind and thermal turbulence. Plan for crowding to spike the first clear weekend after Highway 120 opens.
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About Silver Knob
Silver Knob rises in the high Sierra between Yosemite's main corridor and the eastern Sierra. Access is via Highway 120 from the west or Highway 395 from the east; the peak sits roughly 90 minutes' drive from either Lee Vining or Tuolumne Meadows. The approach crosses avalanche terrain, and snow lingers well into late spring at this elevation. Winter and early-season travel demands current snowpack assessment from the Sierra Avalanche Center. The peak's low base popularity reflects its remote location and technical access requirements.
Temperature averages 45 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 30 days, with a range from 33 to 61 degrees across the full year. Wind averages 7 mph but routinely exceeds 15 mph in the afternoon; storms can produce gusts to 20 mph. The 30-day average crowding sits at 3 out of 10, but traffic climbs sharply in the week following Highway 120 opening. Conditions are best in the narrow windows of late September and early October, when snowpack has consolidated and afternoon thermal winds are least severe. Mid-winter and spring bring the most unstable avalanche conditions; summer sees peak crowds and occasional smoke from lower-elevation wildfires.
Silver Knob suits peakbaggers and climbers comfortable navigating steep, exposed terrain in thin air. The peak attracts experienced Sierra hikers planning self-sufficiency over a 2 to 3-day loop. Parking near the trailhead fills by 9 a.m. on weekends in peak season. Bring full avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel) in winter and spring. Afternoon wind makes descents treacherous if you linger; plan to summit before noon and descend to lower elevations by mid-afternoon. Water sources are limited; cache or filter early.
Nearby peaks in the Yosemite corridor include Mount Lewis and Mono Pass, both accessible from similar Highway 120 and Highway 395 gateways. Silver Knob's avalanche terrain and exposure make it more committing than the gentler ridgelines of the Kuna Crest to the south. Winter ascents demand avalanche awareness that casual day-hikers in Yosemite Valley rarely encounter. The peak's low base popularity means solitude, but also minimal maintained trail infrastructure and sparse water; self-rescue is the rule, not the exception.