Notable lake · Inyo, California
Brainerd Lake
Brainerd Lake is a lake in Inyo, California.
Brainerd Lake: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.
Best time to visit Brainerd Lake
Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Brainerd Lake — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: 37.09070, -118.45749. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Brainerd Lake
- Middle Palisade Glacier · viewpoint · Inyo · ~3 km · Must-see
- Norman Clyde Glacier · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~3 km · Must-see
- Norman Clyde Glacier · viewpoint · Inyo · ~3 km · Must-see
- Birch Creek Pass · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~4 km · Must-see
- Mount Sill · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~5 km · Must-see
- Palisade Glacier · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~6 km · Must-see
- Palisade Glacier · viewpoint · Inyo · ~6 km · Must-see
- Thunderbolt Col · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~7 km · Must-see
- Winchell Col · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~8 km · Must-see
- Mount Robinson · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~8 km · Must-see
- Agassiz Col · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~8 km · Must-see
- Split Mountain · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~10 km · Must-see
- Hurd Col · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~14 km · Must-see
- Cardinal Mountain · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~14 km · Must-see
- Langille Peak · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~17 km · Must-see
- Goodale Mountain · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~18 km · Must-see
- Powell Glacier · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~20 km · Must-see
- Inyo National Forest · sanctuary · Fresno · ~21 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Brainerd Lake
- Big Pine · lake · Esmeralda · ~21 km · Must-see
- Pee Wee Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~23 km · Must-see
- Dingleberry Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~24 km · Must-see
- Lake Sabrina · lake · Esmeralda · ~24 km · Must-see
- Tinemaha Reservoir · lake · Esmeralda · ~26 km · Must-see
- Loch Leven · lake · Esmeralda · ~29 km · Must-see
- Martha Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~31 km · Must-see
- Hell for Sure Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~39 km · Must-see
- Disappointment Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~40 km · Must-see
- Disappointment Lake · lake · Fresno · ~41 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is Brainerd Lake full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Brainerd Lake yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Brainerd Lake?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Brainerd Lake?
Nearby: Middle Palisade Glacier (viewpoint, 3 km), Norman Clyde Glacier (viewpoint, 3 km), Norman Clyde Glacier (viewpoint, 3 km), Birch Creek Pass (viewpoint, 4 km), Mount Sill (viewpoint, 5 km), Palisade Glacier (viewpoint, 6 km).
Is Brainerd Lake worth visiting?
Brainerd Lake is listed as a notable lake in California on Spotwander.