Winter, fall, and spring are incredible times to visit the Eastern Sierra!

To prepare for a fun and safe visit, please thoroughly read the information on this page (and share it with your group)!

Please pad in some extra flexibility, patience, and time for travel and weather delays during winter and shoulder season.

Know Before You Go!

Please thoroughly read this info right after booking. If a winter visit doesn’t sound right for you, you can cancel within our 30-day cancellation period.

Road Closures & Winter Driving

  • Snow typically starts flying in the Eastern Sierras in November (or earlier) and can continue well into late spring and early summer, so be prepared for closures and winter conditions from fall through spring.

    Be aware of the road closures covered in this section, pad in extra time and flexibility to your trip plans, and be prepared to drive in wintery conditions.

    • Tioga Pass (SR120) and the eastern entrance to Yosemite close seasonally, typically from early to mid-November through late May or June, though it varies by year. During this time, the primary access to June Lake from the western Sierras is through the I-80 pass around Lake Tahoe or south of the Sierras near Los Angeles. Tioga may also close intermittently due to severe weather.

    • June Lake Loop (SR158) closes the north gate during winter, so you’ll reach us via the south entrance (near the Shell station).

    • Ebbetts Pass (SR4)

    • Monitor Pass (SR89)

    • Sonora Pass (SR108)

    See here for a complete list of seasonal road closures, and visit the CalTrans QuickMap for current closures and conditions.

    • Highway 395 (the North-South route from LA to Reno) occasionally closes due to heavy snowfall or high winds, so we recommend building some flexibility and padding into your travel days in the event of storm-related closures; for instance, be ready to arrive before nightfall, and be ready to stay a day late.

    • Highway 158 (June Lake Loop) occasionally detours onto North Shore Drive when avalanche conditions occur.

    See the CalTrans Quick Map for more information on current road closures.

  • These are our favorite resources for road information!

    • CalTrans Quick Map: Up-to-date information on road closures and conditions. Hit Options, then Road Conditions, then apply the filters to learn more about full closures, chain requirements, highway info, incidents, and more.

    • CalTrans District 9 Twitter & Facebook: This is a great resource for real-time road status updates, particularly US 395.

    • Dial 511: Call this number for recorded road conditions reports (note: know the highway/interstate number before dialing).

    • June Lake Weather.gov Forecasts

Winter Policies

  • We provide refunds when road closures prevent access to the property for your check-in. On the date of your arrival, please pad in flexibility and time to accommodate inclement weather (for instance, planning to arrive earlier in the day).

    We evaluate cancellations and refunds from road closures on a day-by-day basis. For example: If you plan to stay with us Friday and Saturday night, and roads prevent arrival to the property on Friday night but open up again on Saturday, you will be refunded for Friday night.

    Please note we don’t provide refunds if:

    • You get turned back by CalTrans for not carrying tire chains or snow tires

    • You can’t reach us due to a routine seasonal road closure (such as Tioga SR120)

  • Very occasionally, CalTrans will need to temporarily close Highway 395 to clear snow on the day of your scheduled departure. In these scenarios, you may need to stay in town another night. We handle these rare scenarios as they happen, but we’ll typically offer 50% off the additional night’s stay if needed.

    We’ll be in communication in the event of a snow-in. Hang tight and stay cozy–we all have to be pretty flexible throughout the day to assess conditions. It’s always an adventure!

  • Nope, but hang in there! It’s hard to say what conditions will look like the day of; our storm forecasts tend to be unpredictable.

  • If you’re within our cancelation policy (more than 30 days before check-in, or within 48 hours of booking), then yes! Tip: If you’re not super comfortable driving in the winter, we recommend making a last-minute booking when there’s no chance of snow in the forecast. We often have last-minute openings at Lake Front Cabins and/or Gull Lake Lodge.

    If you’re outside our cancelation policy (you’re within 30 days of arrival, and it’s been more than 48 hours since booking), then, unfortunately, winter driving conditions don’t warrant a cancellation (unless road closures prevent access to the property during check-in).

    Please know that CalTrans is very safety-focused, and their operations come from years of experience. If the roads are open, they’re deemed safe for travel. See our Safety section for more safety information about winter driving.

Safety

(please read ahead of your visit!)

  • We work to keep our parking lot and walkways plowed and de-iced throughout winter, as does the town of June Lake, but use caution walking and driving on icy surfaces.

    Due to occasional rapid snow accumulation in the area, walkways may become slippery.

    We recommend bringing Yaktrax for further traction while walking if you're concerned.

    Feel free to use our snow shovels and windshield scrapers while you're here, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you need help further clearing an area of snow or ice.

  • Watch out for ice and snow shedding from rooftops here and around town, and avoid standing or parking beneath rooflines.

    • Carry snow chains in your vehicle (or have snow tires) to stay safe on the road and comply with CalTrans chain requirements. They’ll turn you back if you don’t have them.

    • Before installing chains on the highway, ensure you’re safely pulled off the highway and visible to other vehicles. During storms, chain assistants are typically set up on Highway 203 (before Mammoth) and Toms Place.

    • Travel with emergency gear in your car.

    • See more winter driving safety tips from CalTrans.

  • If you plan to recreate in snowy conditions or near ice fields, know all safety practices before you go:

    • Bring layers

    • Travel with a buddy, check trail conditions and closures

    • Plan out timing based on daylight and know how the sun will impact conditions

    • Check the weather, understand snow-specific hazards

    • Bring your micro spikes, poles, and avalanche gear

    • Pack other emergency/survival supplies.

    If you plan to recreate in or near avalanche terrain, take all precautions including carrying avalanche equipment, taking an avalanche course, and speaking with a ranger ahead of time.

    For more info, visit Avalanche.org, the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center, and the Sierra Avalanche Center.

  • During fall, bears enter a state of excessive eating (known as hyperphagia) as they fatten up before winter, so please secure all trash in the bear-proof dumpster and latch it when you're all set. Don’t leave human/pet food outside of your room or in your car.