Availability
Swede Lake and Unnamed mapped stream or river are mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.
Backpacking camp
Swede Lake camp area
Sierra National Forest Wildernesses, California
About this place
Swede Lake is an official itinerary area, permit zone, or source-backed named overnight reference represented by a reachable point on the pinned agency trail network in Sierra National Forest Wildernesses.
The marker is a route-access reference, not a tent pad. Move off the trail only where travel is permitted, remain inside the authorized zone, and choose a legal durable site under every current setback and closure.
Water planning
Water at this camp
Natural water at or near this camp areaDrinking safety
Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.
Seasonality
Swede Lake is a mapped waterbody; USGS does not classify it here as seasonal or year-round. Confirm current level, access, and quality. Unnamed mapped stream or river is classified as perennial in USGS hydrography, but current flow still must be confirmed.
- Swede LakeLake or pond · at the camp areaMapped waterbody — level and access can change · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
- Unnamed mapped stream or riverRiver or stream · at the camp areaMapped perennial source — verify current flow · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
Permit + current order requiredCampfires
Swede Lake is an undeveloped backcountry camp area in Sierra National Forest Wildernesses. A California Campfire Permit is required for a portable stove or any otherwise-legal fire in Sierra National Forest Wildernesses. Use a gas, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve; wood, charcoal, twig stoves, and campfires are allowed only where the current forest order and destination-specific elevation or named-area rules expressly allow them. Never treat an old ring as proof that a fire is legal, and do not build a new ring where fires are prohibited.
Backpacking stoves
Shutoff-valve gas or pressurized-fuel stove with permit. Use a gas, LPG, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve. Twig and wood-burning stoves follow the campfire rule and are prohibited anywhere wood fires are prohibited.
Permit
Carry a valid California Campfire Permit for a portable stove or any otherwise-legal fire; the permit never overrides a forest closure, fire-danger order, elevation limit, or named-area prohibition.
Current restrictions
Check USDA Forest Service's current alerts and the selected trailhead posting before departure. The standing rule shown here remains subordinate to a newer emergency order.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
Western Sierra wilderness entries have no universal annual closure, but high-elevation roads and trails are commonly snowbound into late spring or summerPlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of Swede Lake is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Onion Springs OHV/Margaret Lakes Trailhead, Mono Meadow- Please note, this trailhead does not access the upper Mono Creek drainage or the JMT/PCT Trailhead, Doris/Tule Trailhead, and 28 more. Western Sierra wilderness entries have no universal annual closure, but high-elevation roads and trails are commonly snowbound into late spring or summer. Storm damage, wildfire, gates, and seasonal road operations can close an individual approach.
Before driving
Check Sierra National Forest alerts, the exact forest road and gate, snowpack, and current trail conditions before departure.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for Swede Lake camp area
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- Willow Meadow/Dinkey Lake Trailhead2.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Nelson Trailhead5.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Cliff Lake Trailhead7.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Helms Meadow Trailhead7.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Coyote - Access to this trailhead is via an OHV trail that is rated "Most Difficult". Trailhead7.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Maxson (Courtright) Trailhead12.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Florence Trailhead12.8 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Dutch/Crater Trailhead14.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Badger Trailhead15.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Potter Pass Trailhead17.8 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Potter Cut-off Trailhead17.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Rattlesnake Trailhead18.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Deer Creek Trailhead18.4 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Sample Meadow Trailhead20.1 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Billy Creek Trailhead22.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Coarsegrass Meadow Trailhead22.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Hidden Trailhead22.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Corbett Trailhead22.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Portal Forebay Trailhead25.1 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Mono Hot Springs- Please note, this trailhead does not access the upper Mono Creek drainage or the JMT/PCT corridor Trailhead27.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Doris/Tule Trailhead27.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Bear Diversion Trailhead28.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Bear Ridge Trailhead28.8 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Onion Springs OHV/Margaret Lakes Trailhead28.9 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Margaret Lakes Trailhead29.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Mono Meadow- Please note, this trailhead does not access the upper Mono Creek drainage or the JMT/PCT Trailhead30.8 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Woodchuck Trailhead38.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Crown/Rancheria Trailhead38.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Mono Creek Trailhead40.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Devils/Graveyard Trailhead40.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Cassidy/Miller Trailhead40.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 37.158007° N
- Longitude
- 119.076210° W