LockA locked padlock Just outside of town, there is plenty of BLM land and National Forest Service land, both of which allow free dispersed camping. This out and back trail is popular among backpackers and day hikers looking to explore into the Eastern Sierra. Three and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead waiting for the shuttle! But to camp overnight, you'll need to obtain a permit like most spots in the Eastern Sierra. The plan was to head to Thousand Island Lake on the first night, Ediza Lake on the second, and Minaret Lake for the third and final night. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. Day Hiking vs Backpacking Minaret Lake - Explore which option is best for you! There is a water spigot and bathrooms near the Ranger Station here. ft. 6201 Minaret Rd #2403, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 $1,095,000 MLS# 223000169 Welcome to The Village's exceptionally RARE TOP corner unit with high ceilin. This trail has some elevation gain, but its fairly spread out over the whole hike. 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. Our first view of the entire Minarets, part of the Ritter Range. But specialists are aware that the field is not easy to document, should they wish to go beyond the usual material provided by architectural journals in European languages. There is a 10 person (6 reservation and 4 walk-in) daily permit quota for the Minaret Lake Trail from June to mid-September. 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. 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. Yes, there are creeks and lakes you can filter water from. Brian and I were both in awe of the grandeur of Minaret Lake. 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. Search & Rescue Mountain Safety Message., Be alert when arriving at night in areas with bear activity. No campfires at Minaret Lakes or Deadhorse Lake; and no campfires at all locations above 10,000 ft. Food, trash and scented items must be stored in. Its about nourishment and learning. Sunset . You will start the Minaret Lake hike at the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. What to Bring on Your Minaret Lake Backpacking Trip The essential packing list for your Minaret Lakes hike dont hit the trail without these things! Since the road to this area is closed approximately Mid-October through Mid-June, it is a hike best done during the summer or early fall. Overview. Water must be treated before consumption and can be collected from various streams and lakes. We are Brian and Julie, a Bay Area couple making travel work with full-time jobs. It would be a shame to come so far and only see one part of the basin. After reuniting back by the lake shore, it was time to race the sun and head back to the car. Fees cannot be transferred to other dates or trails. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. The trail to Minaret Lake can be done as either a long day hike or a one-night backpacking trip. Then youll hit the trail and hike to Minaret Lake, which shouldnt take you more than 4-5 hours, since its a pretty chill gradual incline up to Minaret Lake. This allowed us to drive down to the trailhead, and enjoy the trek with very few other hikers. Hiking to Minaret Lake in Mammoth Lakes, California Miles: 13.4 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 2,437 feet Difficulty: Moderately strenuous Dogs: Yes Permits: Not for day hikes, for backpacking only When to go: July through early November The hike to Minaret Lake was one of my favorite hikes. Visitorsto the Reds Meadow Valley pay a per-person transportation fee which allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus. for the process. You should also set up your camp in a spot where people have clearly camped before, in order to minimize environmental impact. I've been wanting to visit Minaret Lake for so long now, and I love that I was able to squeeze in a weekend trip from the Bay Area. 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. At the 2.28 mile mark, Brian and I arrived at Johnston Lake. This one week road trip heads through several prime landmarks in Norcal and Oregon. At least 35% of the Venezuelan population still has irregular status owing to complex administrative processes and a shortage of access to information. 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. Everything you need to know about permits and regulations can be found on the Eastern Sierra - Logisitcal Center page. 2) Click the Explore Available Permits button. He managed to snap a few photos of Minaret Lake from above though, and considered it all worth it for the views. Please help protect this natural resource and leave it unmarked for future visitors. 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. Check weather and road closures before choosing a trip in winter or spring. Places to explore include the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Golden Trout, Hoover, and South Sierra wildernesses. 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. Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. You can mull-over your decision for the first half-mile on the trail. It's a bit surprising considering how popular the trails are . The one-way hike to Minaret Lake wont take the whole day, so this trip will still give you time to relax and explore the area further if you want. 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. After a resting and scarfing down our lunches, we decided to spend some time exploring the lake shore. Do not leave food unattended., In campgrounds and parking areas with bear proof lockers, all food and scented items must be removed from vehicles and secured in the lockers. Permits are required if you are backpacking & camping, but not for day hiking this trail. Depending on the season you choose to hike Minaret Lake, you could encounter snow on the trail, which would make the hike more technical and potentially treacherous. As soon as I saw pictures of this location, I knew Brian and I had to see it in person. It was a chilly, fall morning when we set out on the trail. Mammoth Lakes, CA. Note that during peak season, you will have to take a shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Inn to the trailhead as parking is limited. In that case, its probably worth spending a night in Mammoth Lakes before the hike in order to give your body a little time to adjust. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Minaret Lakes via PCT, Minaret Creek, and John Muir Trail Loop Ansel Adams Wilderness Length: 23.5 mi Est. 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. In other words, do the 3 passes have sections like that, or are they all trail? One week before the trip you can print at home or request the permit. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! Join the Backpacking Badass Program Waitlist. Traditional check in includes the chance to ask questions in person, rent a bear can, or purchase maps along with printing the permit. The lake was quite marshy, but there were some nice spots in the shade to relax and watch the dragonflies flying low across the meadows. Here well go over the pros and cons of each option. In this post I've created a comprehensive hiking packing list for essential hiking gear. Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. . Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) John Muir Trail Shadow Creek Trail Minaret Creek Trail PCT/JMT. Thanks for the feedback, Ranjeet. To narrow your search, use the filters at the top input Overnight, your start date, and group size. Youll find plenty of places to stake your tent, but be aware of Leave No Trace rules, and camp at least 200 feet from the water. Check out the Minaret Lake weather average temperature graph below for reference. No camping at Shadow Lake or along Shadow Creek between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake. On popular summer weekends the quota for permits may run out, so . 5) At this point, youll be taken to an order form page where you will fill in all the necessary information. Day 1 - Agnew Meadows to Rosalie Lake (12 miles), Day 2 - Rosalie Lake to Minaret Lake (7 miles), Day 3 - Minaret Lake to Agnew Meadows (11.4 miles). 6) Finally, youll check out and pay for your Minaret Lake permit. Also, you dont have to worry about getting a wilderness permit if you day hike. Its important that you research your weather conditions before you go, weeks and days before your trip. The 7-mile hike to base camp is mostly uphill and follows Minaret Creek. Beginning on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the loop follows the Middle Fork San Joaquin River for approximately 5.7 miles. Try this 14.9-mile out-and-back trail near June Lake, California. Complete your camp locations and verify final group size before you print permit. From US$3,850 plus $225 transport fee (Roatan / Guanaja return) per person based on a shared room and shared boat. When backpacking to Minaret Lake, youll want to camp near the lake itself (especially on the east side) for the most breathtaking views. | shedreamsofalpine.com, Hiking 101 - The Essential Hiking Gear List (PLUS Hiking Packing List Printable) | Hiking doesnt need to be overwhelming, but I am a big fan of being prepared for the worst case scenario. website belongs to an official government organization in the Minaret Lake. Water from creeks, lakes and springs should be treated before drinking. Interest in European architecture beyond Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean, is currently thriving. 7 Tips to Hiking and Summitting Your First Fourteener Mountain, California backpacking permit process for popular trails and campsites, Backpacking for Beginners: 15 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid Your First Time Backpacking | Consider this list of common backpacking blunders and backpacking tips as your introduction to backpacking basics. Phone: 760-873-2483Email: [email protected]. Link to full Permit Printing Instructions After printing you cannot make changes unless you contact the wilderness permit office or go into the visitor center during open hours. Happy trails! The guide team at East End Lodge use 16-foot Dolphin Super Skiffs with 85HP Yamaha outboard motors. Important Minaret Lake Safety Tips Tips about the top hazards to expect along the Minaret Lake trail. Minaret Lake crowds: You probably wont be alone on this trail, but the crowds usually arent too bad overall. We took our time enjoying the morning light in the trees, and we even happened upon a doe and a fawn. | 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. In Minaret Creek you will fish for Brook Trout. Minaret Lake Hike Details Starting Elevation: 7,549 Distance: 16 miles Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet Hike Type: Out-and-back, day-hike, backpacking Difficulty Level: Strenuous Permit: None required for day hiking, Wilderness Permit required for backpacking Date Hiked: October 12, 2019 How to get to the Minaret Lake Trail https://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/reds-meadow-and-devils-postpile-shuttle-information.htm, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea?recid=20540. Many buildings were ready, but without the residents, they were empty. Log onto your account at Recreation.gov to make changes or call the wilderness permit office for Inyo National Forest for reservation assistance (760) 873-2483. After heading left here, the trail steadily climbs up through the trees, gaining some slight elevation the entire time. Let us know in the comments! After having breakfast and packing up our packs, we started our hike out. Out of all the places I've backpacked in the Eastern Sierra, the Minarets have to be the most jagged and dramatic section of mountain range in the Sierra. Trails with zero space in winter are affected by road closure. Alerts and Closures for Inyo National Forest. 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. Distance: ~6.4 miles. We were distracted by a partially frozen waterfall 4.35 miles in, and just past this marker you will begin to climb up more through a few switchbacks. 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