TRAILS

- Easy | Moderate | Trail Mileages

EASY

LAKES BASIN AREA

Off of Lake Mary Road provides numerous shorter trails near Lake George. In order to get the most out of your excursion, plan to hike an hour or more before turning around.

PANORAMA DOME

The dome is an easy 1/2 hike that begins near the bridge of Twin Lakes and plunges into a dense forest of red firs. Once you reach the top of the dome you will encounter stunning views of Mammoth Crest, Crystal Crag and Mammoth Mountain. The trailhead is on Lake Mary Road just past the turnoff to Twin Lakes. Be careful to park well off the road.

ROCK CREEK

An easy trail to hike is Rock Creek. Most of the trail runs alongside a rushing creek through glacier-carved canyons. Bellowing aspens, willows, and flowering foliage will surround you. An early October hike when the colors are brilliant yellows, and reds is breathtaking!

COLDWATER TO HEART LAKE

Easy to Moderate 1 mile hike to the lake Trailhead: follow directions to the end of the Coldwater Campground road, then follow signs to the Mammoth Consolidated Mine/Heart Lake on the left side of the parking lot. This is a great hike for history, flowers and views. Take the self-guided tour through the Mammoth Consolidated Mine, and then head up the Heart Lake trail. Along the way you'll see old miner's cabins and wildflowers in bloom in June and July, plus spectacular views of Mammoth Mountain, the Minarets and more.

COLDWATER TRAILHEAD TO EMERALD LAKE, SKY MEADOWS

Easy ¾ mile hike to Emerald, moderate 2 mile hike to Sky Meadows Trailhead: take Lake Mary Road into the upper lakes basin, turning left at Lake Mary toward Coldwater Campground. Drive to the end of the Coldwater Campground road and look for the Emerald Lake trailhead on the right side of the parking lot. Watch for the base of spectacular Blue Crag.

DEVILS POSTPILE NATIONAL MONUMENT

Devils Postpile National Monument A short hike leads to this unique geologic feature. The National Park Service provides interpretive tours, restrooms, a Ranger Station, picnic area and campground.

BARRETT, TJ LAKES

Easy .75 mile hike accessing Barrett, then the larger TJ Lake. Trailhead: Lake George parking lot-look for the sign on the campground side of the lot. The trailhead is on the backside of the parking lot. Abundant wildflowers can be found in the meadow area at the upper end of T.J. Lake.

HORSESHOE LAKE

Very easy 1-mile walk around the lake Trailhead: the Horseshoe parking lot at the end of Lake Mary Road. The dead trees around the Horseshoe parking area are the result of Carbon Dioxide emissions from deep underground-a sign of Mammoth's volcanic and geothermal history.

MCLEOD LAKE

Easy ½ mile hike to the lake Trailhead: Horseshoe Lake parking area. Look for signs to Mammoth Pass. A great little hike that takes you to colorful McLeod Lake, this trail begins at the "Mammoth Pass" sign at Horseshoe Lake. At one-half mile, the left fork leads south to McLeod Lake; the right fork continues 3.5 miles to Red's Meadow.

INYO CRATERS

0.25 miles. The turnoff for the Inyo Craters trailhead is located on the Mammoth Scenic Loop road. Follow a graded gravel road to the trailhead, where a short hike through the forest leads to the edge of the craters.
 

MODERATE

SHADOW LAKE and LAKE EDIZA

3.5 miles- 6 miles. Lake Ediza Take the turnoff to Agnew Meadows campground. From the trailhead parking lot, follow the signs for "Shadow Lake/River Trail." Start early to avoid intense midday sun along the steep, exposed switchbacks.

OWENS RIVER GORGE

This is a scenic wonderland that has become a mecca of sorts for the rock-climbing crowd. Sporty routes flank both sides of this canyon and many are overhanging desperados. There is great fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing here as well. Be wary of stinging nettle plants along the waterways. Access is from Highway 395, 10 miles north of Bishop at the Owens Gorge Pipeline Road.

BISHOP CREEK CANYON

Bishop Creek Canyon in considered by many to be the premier region of the entire Eastern Sierra. Beautifully paved roads take you well above 9,000' into the heart of the High Sierra. Numerous lakes dot the region including South Lake, Lake Sabrina and North Lake. There are vast groves of aspen, beautiful granite spires, bubbling brooks, grassy meadows and languid streams all waiting to be explored. Head west from Bishop at the main intersection in town at Line Street. Take Line Street (rt. 168) west for approximately 20 miles to the end of the road. This road does not cross the Sierra.

BOTTOMLESS PIT

Moderate ¾ mile hike to viewpoint Short and steep, this ascent winds up Mammoth Mountain from the back of the Twin Lakes campground. From Tamarack, walk through the campground, over the bridge, following the road until you see the trailhead sign.

CRYSTAL LAKE, MAMMOTH CREST

Moderate 1.75 miles hike to Crystal Lake, Strenuous 3 miles to Mammoth Crest Trailhead: Lake George parking area for both trailheads. Gorgeous views are the reward for the uphill push above Lake George. The trailhead is to the immediate right of the parking lot entrance at Lake George. The trail splits to the right for Mammoth Crest, heading for the Crest about one mile along the trail. You'll be rewarded with expansive views of the Minarets, Mammoth Mountain and the Mammoth Lakes Basin Climbing above Lake George through stands of mountain hemlock; the trail offers striking views of the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

RAINBOW FALLS

A 1.5-mile moderate hike leads to the top of spectacular Rainbow Falls. The trailhead parking area is one-half mile past the entrance to Red's Meadow campground, or you can access the trail just past Devils Postpile, which makes a nice combination two trail hike.

SHERWIN LAKES and VALENTINE LAKE

2 miles- 5 miles. The trailhead turnoff is on Sherwin Creek Road. Watch for a sign 1.4 miles from Old Mammoth Road. This 2-mile hike up a fairly steep path takes you to Sherwin Lakes. Valentine Lake is 3 miles farther.

DUCK PASS TRAIL

Moderate to Strenuous, depending on how far you go 1-5 miles one-way up the Duck Pass trail. Trailhead: at the very end of Coldwater Campground Road The Duck Pass trailhead is located above Coldwater campground. Duck Lake has an intense, deep-blue color, and is reached by ascending the steep switchbacks of Duck Pass. Along the way are Arrowhead, Skeleton and Barney lakes.

TRAIL MILEAGE

ALL TRAIL MILEAGES INDICATED BELOW ARE ONE WAY ONLY

ROCK CREEK LAKE

(9682 Ft.) to:
Kenneth Lake (10,350 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 3 miles
Tamarack Lake (11,580 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles

ROCK CREEK ROADS END

(10,250 Ft.) to:
Long Lake (10,543 Ft.) Easy Hike, 2 miles
Mono Pass (12,000 Ft.) Strenuous Hike 3 miles
Trail Lakes (11, 240 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5 miles

ROCK CREEK PACK STATION

(9 840 Ft.) to:
Hilton Lake #2 (9,900 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 3.5 miles

HILTON LAKES PACK STATION

(7,200 Ft.) to:
Davis Lake (9,801 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5 miles
Lake #2 (9,900 Ft.) Strenuous Hike 6 mile
Lake #4 (10, 400 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 7.5 miles

McGEE CREEK

(8,100 Ft.) to:
Beaver Dam (9,000 Ft.) Intermediate Hike 2.5 miles
Big McGee Lake (10,480 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6.5 miles
Steelhead Lake (10,400 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles
Golden Lake (10,400 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles

CONVICT LAKE

(7,580 Ft.) to:
Lake Mildred (9,760 Ft.) Strenuous Hike 5 miles
Lake Dorothy (10,250 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles

LAUREL CANYON JEEP ROAD

(9,770 Ft.) to:
Lake Genevieve (10,150 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 3 miles

SHERWIN CREEK

(7,800 Ft.) to:
Sherwin Lakes (8,620 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2.5 miles
Valentine Lake (9,650 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5 miles

COLDWATER CANYON

(9,050 Ft.) to:
Heart Lake (9,590 Ft.) Easy Hike, 1-mile
Arrowhead Lake (9,660 Ft.) Easy Hike, 1.25 miles
Barney Lake (1O, 200 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2.5 miles
Duck Lake (10,427 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5 miles
Purple Lake (9,900 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 8 miles
Emerald Lake (9,440 Ft.) Easy Hike, 7.5 miles
Sky Meadow (9,700 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2 miles

LAKE GEORGE

(9,008 Ft.) to:
Barrett Lake (9,210 Ft.) Easy Hike, .25 miles
T.J. Lake (9,210 Ft.) Easy Hike, .5 miles
Crystal Lake (9,640 Ft.) Intermediate Hike 1.25 miles
Mammoth Crest (10,640 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 3 miles
Deer Lakes (10,66 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5.5 miles

HORSESHOE LAKE

(8,950 Ft.) to:
McLeod Lake (9,250 Ft.) Easy Hike, .5 miles
Crater Meadows (8,800 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 3.5 miles
Mammoth Pass (9,290 Ft.) Easy Hike, 1 mile
Reds Meadow (7,6OO Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 4 miles

REDS MEADOW

(7,600 Ft.) to:
Rainbow Falls (7,360 Ft.) Easy Hike, 1.25 miles
Fish Creek (6,320 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 8 miles

DEVIL'S POSTPILE

(7,559 Ft.) to:
King Creek (7,607 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 3 miles
Fern Lake (8,790 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles
Johnston Lake (8,100 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2 miles
Minaret Lake (8,9OO Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 8 miles

AGNEW MEADOWS

(8,335 FT.) to:
Shadow Lake (8,750 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 3 miles
Lake Ediza (9,300 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 6 miles
Thousand Island Lake (9,834 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 9 miles
Agnew Pass (9,900 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5.5 miles

FERN CREEK

(7,350 Ft.) to:
Fern Lake (8,900 Ft,) Strenuous Hike, 1.5 miles
Yost Lake (9,100 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 3 miles

SILVER LAKE

(7,212 Ft.) to:
Agnew Lake (8,508 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2.5 miles
Gem Lake (9,052 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 3.5 miles
Clark Lakes (9,850 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5.5 miles
Algier Lake (10,640 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 9 miles

PARKER CREEK

(7,950 Ft.) to:
Parker Lake (8,400 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 2 miles

SAWMILL CANYON

(8,100 Ft.) to:
Walker Lake (7,935 Ft.) Intermediate Hike, 1-mile
Mono Pass (10,600 Ft.) Strenuous Hike, 5 miles