Share sensitive information only Continue along the east side of Ediza Lake, Iceberg Lake, and Cecile Lake. If you dont already have an account on the site, you will need to create one in order to apply. Earlier or later in the season (June or October), you could potentially encounter snow, which would definitely make the trail more of a challenge and potentially be dangerous. How to Get to the Minaret Lake Trailhead Driving and parking recommendations. You can reserve permits ahead of time online here, or try to get a last minute walk in permit as early as the day before at any of the ranger stations listed on their site here. Minaret Lake was an ambitious day hike, but it was a wonderful adventure that we are looking forward to repeating as a backpacking trip. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor The trail never gets too steep but does climb for most of the hike to the lake. Check weather and road closures before choosing a trip in winter or spring. Bundled up in our puffy, down jackets, the two of us headed south on the John Muir Trail (JMT) toward Devils Postpile. The Minarets Arriving at 2:30 was exceptionally early for us and we needed the additional time to find a campsite (it was crowded), set up camp, filter our water, and cook dinner. Our first view of the entire Minarets, part of the Ritter Range. Map Information. Bishop, CA 93514, 7,543 ft. at Devils Postpile Visitor Center, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=20540&actid=51, Reds Meadow Pack Train is located near Reds Meadow Resort offering day rides and mule pack trips(800) 292-7758, Road closed in winter (mid-October through late June). The Ediza Lake - Thousand Island Lake Loop is a top-tier backpacking circuit in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Since we didn't get to acclimate by sleeping at elevation the night before, we were feeling the altitude and had to take a break every 15 minutes on the final climb to catch our breath. No camping at Shadow Lake or along Shadow Creek between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake. This allowed us to drive down to the trailhead, and enjoy the trek with very few other hikers. by far the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park. Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles. Minaret Lake Situated at 9,793 feet in the Ritter Range, Minaret Lake is a stunning alpine lake with Michael Minaret as the backdrop. Distance: 15.6 miles, roundtrip (where you set up camp will vary your mileage slightly) Elevation Gain: 1,870 ft. After rock hopping across Minaret Creek for the first time of the day, we reached our first lake of the day.. Johnston Lake (8,127')! This destination we so extraordinary though that I am already planning a trip back next summer! 7 mi 0 ft gain. Get off the shuttle at Stop #6, Devils Postpile. No spots left? Although this probably wont cause altitude sickness, it could make the hike much more of a struggle if youre coming from sea level. Try this 14.9-mile out-and-back trail near June Lake, California. Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away. I am already daydreaming about photographing the morning alpenglow on the spires, and I know Brian is anxious to get to Cecil Lake. The views open up for a bit just after four miles, and you can begin to see the minaret spires in the distance. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Although we didn't get glassy lake conditions because of a slight wind in the air,we were treated to smoke-free, crystal clear skies. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. I have done other rougher routes and wonder if any of the 3 passes are anything like MR, Whitney-Russell pass, Shadow of Minarets: Minaret-Cecile-Iceberg-Whitebark Pass-Garnet Pass to Thousand Is, Banner Peak itself (west glacier), Lamarck col . The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Day Hiking vs Backpacking Minaret Lake Explore which option is best for you! Starting at 7,562 ft, we headed south from the parking lot onto the JMT, crossed a bridge over the Middle Fork San Joaquin River, and then headed north through the trees. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Inyo National Forest There is a water spigot and bathrooms near the Ranger Station here. It takes approximately 8 hours to do this as a day hike. At the junction head right toward Minaret Falls (or continue straight to see Devils Postpile, then backtrack to this point), and take the bridge across the San Joaquin River. After reuniting back by the lake shore, it was time to race the sun and head back to the car. Fly Fish Guanaja began fishing around the Bay Islands of Honduras 17 years ago. This itinerary is packed with incredible hikes, waterfalls, rugged coastline, redwoods, caves, and lakes you wont want to miss. This is a relatively easy hike both into and out of the canyon, with easy access to water, making this a perfect backpacking trip for newbies to get their first taste of backcountry camping. This section of the John Muir Trail is a non-technical trail on the Native lands of Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, and Eastern Mono/Monache. Just past the lake, there will be another fork where you will stay to the left: saying goodbye to the JMT and hello to the Minaret Lake Trail. Shuttle stop #1 is Agnew Meadows. 2 Bedrooms; 2 Bathrooms; 8 Guests; The Home. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 17 h 25 min to complete. Being novice backpackers, we made a poor selection for our campsite. How many miles, elevation gain, & more. He managed to snap a few photos of Minaret Lake from above though, and considered it all worth it for the views. Minaret Vista is the highest lookout point in the Mammoth Lakes area that motorists can drive to during summer months. Search & Rescue Mountain Safety Message., Be alert when arriving at night in areas with bear activity. You can reserve permits ahead of time online here, or try to get a last minute walk in permit as early as the day before at any of the ranger stations listed on their site here. Our trails offer possibilities for hiking, photography, peak bagging, fishing, or simply enjoying the pristine beauty of the High Sierra. The trail between the two lakes in not marked, and is quite a scramble. Take in the view while you are on the bridge. There is an endless supply of loops, out-and-backs, and point-to-point hikes that can be completed in the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Laura snagged us permits for the River Trail entrance. Then continue to Tokmak and meet a local Dungan family and enjoy a home-cooked lunch. Single room and boat options available. Leave trip information with a friend with instructions of when to report you overdue. While this hike is not extremely difficult, it is long, especially as a day hike, which could be too much for younger kids. If youre backpacking or starting later in the day, you must use the shuttle service instead. Some cross country sections along unmaintained trails that may be difficult to see and not marked well. If you see "W" on the reservation page it means the quota for 6 month advance is fully booked. The Minaret Lake trail is fairly easy to follow, but there are a few trail junctions along the way. After lunch we steadily climbed another ~600 feet over another two miles before turning a bend and seeing an enormous waterfall cascading down the side of the mountain! Toughest thing I have done. Just look for the stream flowing out of Cecile Lake to point you in the right direction. No rain checks or credits. Minaret Lake should be on every backpacker's list. The trail now mostly follows the Minaret Creek, and we spotted lots of fish in the clear waters darting away in front of us. How many miles, elevation gain, & more. Trails with zero space in winter are affected by road closure. Alerts and Closures for Inyo National Forest. Check for open hours before you go to the visitor center for in person service. Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Get a permit to backpack Minaret Lake in Inyo National Forest. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Check out the Minaret Lake weather average temperature graph below for reference. Twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. It was much larger than we imagined, and of course the craggy spires that surround the sapphire blue waters are breathtaking. Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Day three. Elevation Gain: ~1,388ft. Brian and I were both in awe of the grandeur of Minaret Lake. The 231,005-acre wilderness is a spectacular setting of alpine meadows, lakes, and rugged peaks that encompass the headwaters of the San Joaquin River. In Minaret Creek you will fish for Brook Trout. For Sale: 2 beds, 2 baths 925 sq. This is a place for fellow hikers and backpackers in Southern California to organize meet ups, post gear I created the Ultimate Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for you (and it's FREE)! The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. On neap tides the water inside the lagoon is scarcely deeper than shin height and the fish cruise in shallow water inches deep, tanning their backs in the bright sun. Leader or alternate leader names cannot be changed or added., No refund if you cancel your reservation less than 12 days before the entry date. We are Brian and Julie, a Bay Area couple making travel work with full-time jobs. Distance: ~6.4 miles. You'll hike along the Minaret Creek past meadows, an enormous waterfall, and eventually you'll see the entire range of the Minarets above you. Devil's Postpile Ranger Station. This x-country path from lake to lake corresponds to Roper's Sierra High Route. Do you need a permit to hike Minaret lake? We found a nice, well-protected campsite on the southeast shore of the lake that still had views of the tops of the mountains. This loop is suitable for trail runners, hikers, and backpackers. The trail eventually leads to Minaret Lake, situated at the base of the Minarets, a group of jagged peaks within the Ritter Mountain Range (a subrange of the Sierra Nevada). Crossing Minaret Creek Due to the high snow fall year and late melt, mosquitos were out in full force even in August. The Minaret Lake hike is the perfect way to get a taste of the stunning Sierra Nevadas on a short backpacking trip. Follow along as we share our adventures at home & abroad. Minaret Lake crowds: You probably wont be alone on this trail, but the crowds usually arent too bad overall. Just north of Shadow Lake (where the PCT/JMT converge) the Minaret Lakes Loop heads west along Shadow Creek Trail. Thanks While Minaret Lake is certainly not the highest point in the Sierra Nevadas, the trailhead starts at around 7,500 feet elevation, and youll end up all the way up at 9,800 feet when you reach Minaret Lake. You can filter further by typing in Minaret Lake or AA11 into the filter search box. Wilderness permits can be obtained from the Inyo National Forest for trips originating out of trailheads within Reds Meadow Valley. Summary - A wildly popular and challenging hike straight into the heart of the jaw-dropping Ritter Mountain Rangewhat many people argue is Mammoth's most beautiful landscape. Its important that you research your weather conditions before you go, weeks and days before your trip. Be sure to bring your National Parks Pass, or pay the current entrance fee, and then make your way down the narrow road toward the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. Rangers ask that you dont bring bear spray with you in this area. Then onto the destination of today - Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) John Muir Trail Shadow Creek Trail Minaret Creek Trail PCT/JMT. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! Mammoth Lakes offers many camping options, from developed campgrounds to dispersed camping. Beginning on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the loop follows the Middle Fork San Joaquin River for approximately 5.7 miles. There is no better scenery in the Sierra. We didnt because it would have been an extra mile or so tacked-on to an already long hike, and our research showed us that it was just a small cascade. Is hiking Minaret Lake kid-friendly? If you have time, take a quick stop at Minaret Vista to gaze at your hiking goal for the day. Permits are required for overnight camping and backpacking trips and can be obtained at www.recreation.gov. Hike Type: Overnight Difficulty Level: Difficult Food Storage: There are two bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Thousand Island Lake: Hike Details. There is very limited parking at the ranger station, and you are only allowed to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead if you arrive before 7am and are day hiking. Day 1: Car at Agnew Meadows Road to Ediza Lake (Shadow Creek). If you're hiking outside of when the shuttle runs, you can drive to the trailhead yourself. So worth the early wake-up call though. You can check the weather conditions here: Mountain Forecast One of my favorite resources for mountain weather forecasts when checking a few days before a trip. Minaret Lake - Cecile - Iceberg - Ediza - Nydiver - basin with little lake to the west of Garnet Lake - west side of Thousand Island Lake: 10 out of 10. The cover photo for this post is from me waking up around 5 AM on my trip with my best friend to this area. You don't need a permit to hike this is a day hike. To purchase more detailed maps or guidebooks of the area, visit sierraforever.org. Our trails offer possibilities for hiking, photography, peak bagging, fishing, or simply enjoying the pristine beauty of the High Sierra. Anywho, my permit via recreation.gov was for the Inyo National Forest on the High . Activities Fishing Hiking And there are a few absolutely essential items I want to make sure you have ready to go when youre heading out on your Minaret Lake adventure. Above Minaret Falls near Johnston Meadow the Minaret Lake trail seperates from the John Muir trail to followMinaret Creek. Choose a campsite at least 100 feet away from lakes, streams, or trails.. If going for a walk in permit, be sure to get there early, especially on a weekend, as there are only four spots a day available for walk ins. The 7-mile hike to base camp is mostly uphill and follows Minaret Creek. More details on the quota can be found on the National Forest Service site. Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Later in this season, the water level should be low, and the crossing shouldnt be an issue at all, but early in the season, you will want to be careful making this crossing. Map showing recreational areas. Phone: 760-873-2483Email: SM.FS.WildPmt_Inyo@usda.gov. 5) At this point, youll be taken to an order form page where you will fill in all the necessary information. To finalize your permit reservations, youll need to pay a $6 permit fee plus an additional $5 non-refundable per person transaction fee. You can stop for water or to use the bathroom at the ranger center, then begin your hike right from there. Of trailheads within Reds Meadow Valley ; the Home Home & abroad Food Requirements... Search box on my trip with my best friend to this area this minaret lake permit are through! Managed to snap a few trail junctions along the way east side of Ediza Lake Lake! You see `` W '' on the National Forest for trips originating out of trailheads within Reds Meadow Valley 14.9-mile... 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