Ready to explore University Peak, California? Here's everything you need to know before you go!
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Recommended gear for this trail
LGPO Pick
Salomon
Elixir Tour Mid WP
Waterproof mid-height boot ideal for rocky terrain
203.38 $
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Ready to go?
Everything you need to know before you goWhen?
Opening hours
No information
Varies by season
Best season
Fall
Spectacular colors
Best time
Early morning
Less crowded
Weather (next days)
Loading
How much?
Entry fees
Adult
Not available
Child
—
What to bring?
Gear
- Hiking shoes Essential
- → Salomon Elixir Tour Mid WP · 203.38 $
- Layered clothing Essential
- Rain jacket Essential
- Trekking poles
- → Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork · 69.99 $
- Headlamp
- → Petzl Actik Core 625 · 103.95 $
Water & food
2L minimum
No water point on the trail
Bring energy snacks for a 4h+ hike
Good to know
Park rules
No dogs
Safety
Download the GPX before you go
Limited cellular coverage on the trail
Slippery after rain
Be careful on rocky sections
In an emergency
Emergency
911
Parking GPS
36.748078, -118.361916
Center
Not available
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know4142.00 M
No
No
The roundtrip distance is 9.2 miles with 5,800 feet of elevation gain.
University Peak is rated as very difficult with Class 3 scrambling on the upper sections. This means you'll use your hands on rock and need solid route-finding skills.
The nearest and most common trailhead is Onion Valley, which sits above 9,000 feet in the Inyo National Forest.
Day hikers do not need a permit for a single-day ascent. However, overnight trips require a wilderness permit from the Inyo National Forest, with quotas in place mid-June through mid-September.
Most climbers start at Onion Valley and follow the Kearsarge Pass Trail, passing Matlock Lake and Bench Lake before branching off for the final off-trail scramble to the summit.
Yes, the south slopes offer the least technical approach, though all routes to University Peak involve significant off-trail and scrambling terrain.
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