Mount Raymond Hike Near Fish Camp, CA

About

Mount Raymond climbs to 8,694 feet in the Sierra National Forest just outside Fish Camp, reached by a steep dirt route that doubles as a hiking trail and an off-highway-vehicle road. It isn't a maintained singletrack — you're following a wide, rocky roadbed rather than a dedicated foot path — but it delivers open granite and a genuine high-country view without a park permit or a crowd.

What to Expect

Distance: Roughly 5.5 miles round trip via the Star Lakes route, with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain.
Surface: A wide OHV roadbed, not a dedicated foot trail — expect loose rock, some vehicle traffic on weekends, and little shade once you clear the trees.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, with steady sustained climbing the whole way up.

Good to Know

The route passes near Star Lakes, a small alpine lake along the mountain's flank, before continuing to the summit. This is backcountry terrain in Sierra National Forest, not the national park itself, so there's no entrance fee or reservation to worry about — but there are also no facilities, no cell service, and no maintained tread once the road narrows. Weather at this elevation shifts fast; check conditions and pack layers even for a warm-looking morning, and carry a map or GPS track since the route can be easy to lose among the granite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Raymond inside Yosemite National Park?

No. It's in the adjacent Sierra National Forest, just outside the park's South Entrance near Fish Camp, so no park entrance fee or reservation applies to reach it.

Is this a maintained hiking trail?

Not in the traditional sense. The route follows the Star Lakes OHV road, a dirt track also used by off-highway vehicles, rather than a dedicated hiker-only path.

How difficult is the hike?

It's a moderate-to-difficult out-and-back of roughly 5.5 miles with about 1,500 feet of climbing, most of it exposed to sun and wind.