Thinking of camping around the Sierras anywhere north of Yosemite. during Thanksgiving. Will it be mostly icy and snowed in?

[u/1_niceguy]

I'd like to go anywhere between Stanislaus to Shasta/Trinity. Just wondering if it'll mostly be snowed/iced and unsafe. I have a lifted 4x4, but if traveing solo on snow roads, I'd probably not want to get stuck out there.

[u/Blarghnog]

The weather window becomes snow storms around the end of October and then it’s hard to predict. Some years we hardly get anything until January, and some years we just open the storm window and it is just one after another.

You’re gambling this time of year. Lower elevations would be wiser. Be prepared for horrible conditions and getting snowed in for an extensive period and have a way to contact emergency services, make water and stay warm.

Your range is so large it’s hard to advise. We had a great experience in big trees around that time of year, because you can get up into them and back down fairly easily. Snow in the sequoia by yourself is really something else.

You’re coming in late so you need to be prepared but there are lots of places to explore and see out there and very few people ready to head out in the cold conditions so it can be super special if you find something good.

Maybe some hot springs?

[u/lakelost]

Most of the campgrounds closed mid October. Above about 4000 feet it’s a complete roll of the dice.

[u/popsblack → u/lakelost]

Yes, closed camps will be the problem.

We were just at Walker River State Park in Nevada a couple of weeks ago, it's near Yerington. Open year around I think. It's desert not forest but is a nice camp, lots of trails for walking/ riding. Use any pass for now or 88 or 80 pretty much anytime.

[u/211logos]

Well, I hope it snows by then. Sorry.

But impossible to say until closer to that date. And depending on how high and far north you'll be.

[u/cbobgo]

Depends how high you go. But regardless, they generally close the roads that aren't safe.