How to drive the scenic road to South Lake in California?

South Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.999m (9,839ft) above sea level, located in Inyo County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads of California.

South Lake

Where is South Lake?

The lake is located in the eastern part of California, within the Inyo National Forest.

Is the road to South Lake paved?

The road to the summit is fully paved, in very good condition. It’s called South Lake Road. It comprises a few turns and steep sections.

How long is the road to South Lake?

Starting from CA-168, the road to the summit is 11.42km (7.1 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 595m (1,955 ft) and the average gradient is 5.21%.

Is the road to South Lake open year-round?

Set high in the Sierra Nevada, the road is not plowed in winters. It’s usually impassable from October through June.

 

 

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