The Big Snowpack This Summer in the Sierra Nevada - What to look forward to on your backpacking & climbing trips

If you've read the news or followed OpenSnow this year, you've probably heard about California's massive snow year in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Mammoth Mountain ski resort, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes, CA, broke its total snowfall record at 715 inches— for reference, Mammoth’s average snowfall total hovers around 400 inches most years. It’s a big year—and the rumors, questions, and nerves are beginning to surface in anticipation for the summer Sierra backpacking season.

The hype surrounding a snowy summer season in the Sierra Nevada mountains is beginning to take hold as the first Pacific Crest Trail hikers make their way north toward the southern Sierra. The planning for summer alpine climbing, backpacking, and hiking trips has begun, and lots of big questions are on mountain-lovers’ minds as the season kicks off. I’m here to reassure you that a big snow year is a good thing— and that this summer Sierra backpacking season is going to be one to remember.

This huge snow year should be cause for celebration in the drought-stricken Western United States—including for summer backcountry hikers and climbers. High snowpack in the Sierra is a wonderful thing, both for recreation and for our drought-ridden state. In California, the Sierra snowpack alone is responsible for fulfilling over 30% of the state’s water needs. When the snow falls in quantities like this, waterfalls flow on high, fire danger is reduced, and the summer wildflowers bloom in endless fields across the range.

If you’re feeling unsure about considerations for a snowy year, how to plan the best possible summer trip to the Sierra Nevada, and what to get excited about this high-snow Sierra summer, this post is for you. Here’s what you should be looking forward to this summer in Yosemite and the rest of the Sierra, and how to pick the best hiking and climbing trip to experience the beauty of a summer in the mountains. For information regarding your trip to the Eastern Sierra and Yosemite this snowy summer, check out our Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this page.

What to Look Forward to this High Snow Summer in the Sierra

1) Yosemite’s and the Sierra’s waterfalls are going to be more awe-inspiring than ever this year
Yosemite’s many waterfalls are going to be seriously magical this summer. More snow means more water, and more water flowing through these mountains makes for truly incredible cascades. In my three years of guiding in Yosemite National Park, I’ve been waiting to see Yosemite’s rare water features that only come with the high flows following a high-snow winter.

If you want to experience these cascades from above, check out the Yosemite Valley North Rim Backpack trip. This trip will provide excellent views of some of Yosemite’s most famous cascades from the quiet North Rim of the Valley, with opportunities to see Yosemite Falls as well as Bridalveil Falls and other Yosemite Valley waterfalls. You may even get eyes on Ribbon Falls from the floor of Yosemite Valley, the tallest continuous-drop waterfall in North America. While Ribbon Falls is usually no more than a trickle, this year it is now flowing high. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime year for waterfall viewing in Yosemite Valley.

To experience magical waterfalls in Yosemite’s wilderness solitude, check out the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Waterfall Hike. With fewer hikers than in Yosemite Valley, this less-visited corner of Yosemite National Park will be sure to inspire this summer. Descending into this granite canyon carved by the raging Tuolumne River, you’ll see Waterwheel Falls running on high power—as of May 20, the Tuolumne river was flowing at over 300% of its normal flow. This year is sure to be a great one for Yosemite waterfall-viewing, and possibly a ride down a natural waterslide. I, for one, can’t wait to see the Tuolumne River’s Waterwheel Falls in its full glory.

2) Wildfire risk is decreased after a big snow year.
While wildfires are natural, healthy components of Sierra Nevada ecology, some of California’s mountain regions have experienced truly massive fires in past years. I would argue that the greatest benefit of a high-snow year in the Sierra is the decreased likelihood of devastating wildfires in the latter half of the season. The large amount of snowfall is helping to heal the drought, and is something to celebrate—both for people and the environment. Check out this map of drought conditions for the next three months from the United States Drought Monitor to visualize how this high snow year has ameliorated drought conditions.

One of the major factors influencing the risk of wildfires in the Sierra Nevada is fuel moisture. “Fuels” are anything that can burn: from deadfall to living trees. After a high snow year, the fuel moisture level increases, meaning that it is more difficult for trees and dead wood to go up in flames. High fuel moisture is usually a good predictor of a milder fire year, extending the backpacking season with clear skies and endless clean, mountain air.

This is an excellent year to book a backpacking trip in the Sierra with the low fire risk.

3) The wildflowers are going to be popping off until the late season
The Sierra Nevada is home to a diverse array of unique, alpine wildflowers. Some of my personal favorite seasonal Sierra Nevada flowers and plants include Alpine Paintbrush, Dana Lupine, and the Snow Plant. More water means more incredible wildflowers, and the high country is going to be boasting a gorgeous show of flowers this season. This show is likely to be popping off until later into the summer season than normal as a result of the high snowpack and the high water content it holds within it.

For more information on high country wildflowers, take a look at this National Park Service blog post about where to see wildflowers in Yosemite. On our trips, make sure to check out the Half Dome Climb and Clouds Rest Backpack or the Yosemite High Country Grand Hiking Tour for excellent wildflower viewing opportunities in and around Tuolumne Meadows.

4) Opportunities to hone your snow skills (and have a snowball fight at camp!)
While we will most likely be hiking on dry trails for most of the season, patches of snow will remain throughout the summer, especially on northerly aspects in the high alpine. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the magical scenery that comes with above average snow. I love seeing the mountains striped with snowy couloirs, and hope you will too. This will be a great year for snowball fights at camp and cooling off in a patch of snow on the side of the trail.

If you’re excited to see snow in gullies and passes in the high alpine, check out our high-elevation trip such as the Mount Whitney Backpack, or the PCT and JMT Trail: Kearsarge to Mt. Whitney. The snow looks magical contrasted with these massive, granite peaks, and I cannot wait to get out and see them this summer.

Frequently Asked Questions About a High-Snow Summer in the Sierra

Q: How does this snow year in California compare to other years?
A: It’s a big year, but this amount of snow is not totally unprecedented. The Sierra Nevada is known for boom-and-bust years— sometimes, it snows big and sometimes it barely snows at all. As of last April 1st, the Southern Sierra snowpack was at 300% of average, while the Central Sierra snowpack was at 237% of average. The second biggest year was 1982-83, which was, for a long time, in some areas of the Sierra the largest Sierra snowpack on record.

Check out this excellent visualization of the Sierra Nevada snowpack over time to see what a big snow year looks like from NASA’s satellite imagery, in order to better contextualize this season’s snowpack.

Q: Will I need snowshoes to backpack in the Sierra Nevada this summer?
A: In all likelihood, you will not need snowshoes to backpack in the Sierra this summer. While some high-mountain passes—especially on north-facing aspects—will hold snow well into the summer, snowshoes should be unnecessary for travel beginning in June. This is because snow goes through a freeze-thaw cycle that makes it relatively easy to walk on after freezing overnight. In these late Spring and early Summer conditions, snowshoes can actually be a detriment. Currently, the Sierra is experiencing rapid melting, and much of the snow is trickling downstream already.

Q: Will I need any other additional gear for trips this snowy Sierra season?
A. Despite not needing snowshoes, you want to invest in a good pair of microspikes to help increase your traction when walking up snow-covered hills. Microspikes can help you dig into the snow when it is frozen and prevent slipping on trail. Check out this page to see Outdoor Gearlab’s best-rated microspikes. Microspikes will certainly be a part of my guiding kit this season. Also please keep in mind that microspikes do not replace mountaineering crampons when crampons are needed. Ice axes, and the knowledge on how to use them, may be useful on certain backpacking trips, but if on a guided trip this will be specified by your guide if an ice ax is necessary to bring.

For comfort during the day, I would recommend bringing a bug head net as the snow melts out and the insects return, around mid-July (Insect repellent such as DEET is also very effective in place of a head net). Gaiters for your shoes could be useful to keep your feet dry in wet or snow-covered areas.

Definitely bring a pair of camp sandals with a backstrap for river and stream crossings: they are incredibly helpful to have when crossing high water! I always wear sandals with a backstrap when crossing moving water, and would highly recommend a pair of Tevas, Chacos, or Xero shoes. Check this page out for a list of the best camp sandals. Trekking poles are also highly recommended for river and stream crossings this year, to help stabilize your crossing.

For comfort at night, you may enjoy bringing an inflatable sleeping pad with a high R value if you expect to be sleeping on snow, as these pads are warmer on snow than their closed-cell foam counterparts. You may want to bring an inflatable and a foam pad if temperatures are looking especially cold. Closed cell foam pads, while providing less cush, are great for reliability as they can’t develop leaks. And seriously— if on a guided trip please bring all of the layers on the packing list for backpacking trips! They are all important.

Q: What travel considerations should I take into account for planning a trip to the Sierra Nevada this summer?
A: First, make sure that all roads that you plan to take to your trailhead or trip meeting location are open for the season by taking a look at the state, national park and county road conditions websites. California’s mountain passes will be opening over the next several weeks, and keeping up to date with which passes are open is essential to a smooth trip to the Sierra Nevada. Next, if you are staying in a campground before starting your trip, make sure that it will be open by the time you are coming to the Sierra– some campgrounds will be opening a bit later this year due to infrastructure damage and the high snowpack.

Q: When will Tioga Pass (Highway 120) open this summer?
A: While there is not yet an announced opening date for the Sierra Nevada’s mountain passes, historical opening dates for Tioga Pass give us a good idea of when it will open this year. Historically, in similar heavy snow years, Tioga pass has opened around July 1st. There is slightly more snow this year, but opening dates can be more reliant on spring weather conditions, avalanche debris, etc. than gross snowpack levels, so it is hard to predict. The first week of July would be a good guesstimate at this point. Plowing has begun, and clearing avalanche debris as well as avalanche mitigation in certain areas is underway.

Happy backpacking this snowy season. It is sure to be an excellent one in the Sierra Nevada high country!

by Jackie Florman
IAG backpacking guide Jackie Florman has been guidsing in the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite for the past three years and just recently received a BA degree in Environmental Studies.