Be prepared before you go. The Minaret Lake trail is fairly easy to follow, but there are a few trail junctions along the way. Incredible contrasts of Son Kul; Express tours. All rights reserved. As soon as I saw pictures of this location, I knew Brian and I had to see it in person. Toughest thing I have done. We switchbacked back and forth up the side of the mountain until we reached the top of the falls and headed over the ridge. I am already daydreaming about photographing the morning alpenglow on the spires, and I know Brian is anxious to get to Cecil Lake. You can stop for water or to use the bathroom at the ranger center, then begin your hike right from there. Load this puppy into your trusted GPS and rest easy knowing you have tracks to follow on your next hike or backpacking trip. Share sensitive information only Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Ive created a map detailing the whole Minaret Lake trail that you can explore, including a look at the elevation gain/profile of the hike. best gifts for rv owners, gifts for rv owners, Gift Guide, gift ideas for rv owners, gift ideas for rv campers, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking Related, Outdoor All, gifts for outdoorsy men, outdoorsy gifts for him, gifts for outdoorsmen, outdoor gifts for men, christmas gifts for outdoorsman, popular California hiking & camping permits. Most people hiking to Minaret Lake will need to take the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttle to access the trailhead. Yes, there are creeks and lakes you can filter water from. Fees cannot be transferred to other dates or trails. The craggy Minarets surround the region. 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. There is no better scenery in the Sierra. This campground is very close to the trailhead and has 52 first-come, first-serve sites. All Trips Outdoor Status. connected to the .gov website. 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. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. Click below to be the first to know when my one-of-a-kind backpacking program re-opens again for enrollment! You can also download this file as a GPX file to upload into your own personal GPS device. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. You can download the GPX files from the Minaret Lake trail map below. Education Get all the details on our educational programs, including our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and much more. On an overnight trip, it would definitely be worth it to try again. Due to its popularity, there is a very structured permit process, and this post covers everything you need to know about grabbing Mount Whitney permits so you can plan your hike up this epic California peak. This is a good choice if you dont have a lot of time in the area or if youre looking for a challenging day for training. During the summer you can also arrive before 7am to avoid having to take the shuttle (like we did for our Thousand Island Lake backpacking trip), and this allows you to have your car waiting for you when you return from your hike. Whitney Zone Off the JMT Coldwater Canyon Blayney Hot Springs area Get a permit to backpack Minaret Lake in Inyo National Forest. 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. These junctions come at 5.95, 6.75, and 7.45 miles from Agnew Meadows. Put on your pack and hit the trail. Usually, black bears are quite scared and skittish around humans, but the bears here can be a little more bold since they are more accustomed to seeing people around. 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. 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! If youre anything like me, the first thing you want to know about a trail is the important stats and information, so you can quickly figure out what this hike is all about. Deadlines. Description. | shedreamsofalpine.com, The Stress-Free Guide to Getting John Muir Trail Permits: 5 Simple Steps to Rocking the JMT Permit Process & All of Its Quirks | This post will guide you through the step-by-step process to getting permits for the John Muir Trail. Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. We took our time enjoying the morning light in the trees, and we even happened upon a doe and a fawn. Get to know this 34.1-mile loop trail near June Lake, California. The view of the lake from above is specially stunning, i didnt have the energy or the time (to make the last shuttle) to explore towards lake Cecile, which is the base of the climb up clyde minaret next time! Just look for the stream flowing out of Cecile Lake to point you in the right direction. I'd love to come back for some more technical routes up some of the nearby peaks - the view must be incredible from up there. This area of the Eastern Sierras is filled with a variety of wildlife, but the biggest concern is black bears. The Trail Code youll be applying for is Minaret Lake - AA11. No camping at Shadow Lake or along Shadow Creek between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake. by far the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park. Just north of Shadow Lake (where the PCT/JMT converge) the Minaret Lakes Loop heads west along Shadow Creek Trail. Reservation fees are used to finance the on-line reservation system and software for permit data. The final mile to Minaret Lake was the hardest and the steepest. Suite 200 After 0.75 miles, we passed the North/South junction for the PCT. A $5.00 per person recreation fee is charged for all other areas. Our first view of the entire Minarets, part of the Ritter Range. website belongs to an official government organization in the All people count for wilderness quotas and fees. 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. Flush toilet at shuttle stop. Recreation Map Map showing recreational areas. Leave trip information with a friend with instructions of when to report you overdue. For Sale: 2 beds, 2 baths 925 sq. Overview. On popular summer weekends the quota for permits may run out, so . 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. The big-ticket infrastructure projects could be seen past the rows of derelict homes, where modern public infrastructure was built by the banks of scenic Lake Lanao. Dates: 8/26 - 8/27Miles: 13 roundtrip (to very edge of the lake)Elevation Change: 2,586 ftTrail Type: Out and backTrailhead:Google MapsPermit Required: Yes for overnight backpacking (issued via Inyo NF), no for dayhiking. 11h 16m Hard 4.1 (9) John Muir Trail from Reds Meadow to Piute Pass John Muir Wilderness Length: 64.3 mi Est. After waking up early to catch the sunrise over the lake the next morning, head back down the trail and hike out. From this point, youll be alternating between forest and rocky landscapes for about three miles. Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Journey to the Kel Suu lake; To the blooming valley of Karkara. Violators will be booted and charged a service fee. I always recommend downloading a GPX file onto a GPS device, that way you can check in from time to time to be sure youre on the right trail. *Please note that some of the below links and in this post are affiliate links. Itinerary for Hiking the Minaret Lake Trail - Ill walk you through a suggested itinerary for backpacking the trail so you can make your plans accordingly. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit. Let us know in the comments! Only two miles in, we decided to have our Triscuits and tuna lunch (click here for my tried-and-true backpacking meals) on the edge of Johnston Lake, since this would be the only other lake we would pass before reaching Minaret Lake, our final destination. Near the beginning of this trail, you will come to a stream crossing near Johnston Lake. Backpacking to Minaret Lake lets you savor the beauty of the area. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. This backpacking checklist goes over everything you might need on a 3-5 day backpacking trip (with a printable checklist), plus my personal recommendations on the best gear for each of the different items. Thousand Island Lake: Hike Details. Thanks for the feedback, Ranjeet. From the Town of Mammoth, take Minaret Road to the entrance of Devils Postpile National Monument. Cant find available permits?You can now sign up to be notified of any permit cancellations via Outdoor Status! We skipped seeing the monument since we visited it the year before when we hiked to Rainbow Falls, but if you have never made the trip, it is worth the half-mile detour to the base of the rock formation. Come to experience nature and let it refresh your spirit. All day we could detect the faintest trace of smoke in the air from all the wildfires California has been battling, and as late afternoon rolled around, we could visibly see the haze settling into the basin, even up here at 9,800 ft.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'backcountrycow_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',692,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backcountrycow_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); That sunset ended up being one of the most memorable I've experienced in the backcountry. 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. But be sure to get up early to try to make it to the trailhead before 9am to grab parking. Turn right on Minaret Road and go to Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center (Main Lodge) for long term parking and to board the mandatory shuttle to the trailhead. If you have more than one car in your group, leave one of your cars up at Minaret Vista and carpool to the trailhead to have a better chance of getting a spot. 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')! Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Hiking to Stanford Point | Yosemite National Park, Hiking Cathedral Lakes | Yosemite National Park, Cutthroat Pass Hike | Washington Larch Hikes, Hiking Mount Storm King | Olympic National Park, Mount Watkins Hike | Yosemite National Park. Park here, use the restroom one last time, and be sure to lock away all scented items in the nearby bear lockers. From the Main St/Minaret Road (CA-203) intersection in Mammoth Lakes, follow the Minaret Road northwest for ~4.1 miles to the Mammoth Mountain Village. Heres a look at the Minaret Lake hike elevation gain profile from the trailhead to the lake and back. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Your furry friend can join you on this trail (just be prepared to navigate a possible stream crossing). Come prepared to find your way. You can also download this file as a GPX file to upload into your own personal GPS device. Use this JMT permit guide to demystify the whole lottery application process and increase your chances of grabbing a JMT permit. I set an alarm and snuck out of my tent to brave the windy cold morning in order to capture a picture and take in one of the most beautiful things Ive ever seen.