and reservations. The Minaret Lake hike begins in the Devils Postpile National Monument near Mammoth Lakes, California. Lifeline Trail Light Day Hiker First Aid Kit. The cover photo for this post is from me waking up around 5 AM on my trip with my best friend to this area. Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Come, take a deep breath of clean mountain air. While I initially hoped to visit on an overnight trip so that I could capture the early morning on the peaks, we decided that the frigid temperatures during a night in October would be a bit uncomfortable. Also, you will need to mark if this is a guided trip or not. Being novice backpackers, we made a poor selection for our campsite. Mount Whitney Summit from Trail Camp. BearVault BV450 Bear Resistant Food Container. Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. Contact the wilderness permit office if you have questions or need to reissue a permit with corrections. Glacier-fed Minaret Lakes are at the foot of the Minaret Pinnacles in the Ritter Range. Whether you are seeking solitude, exceptional scenery, or sharing a wilderness adventure, there are many ways to create a memorable experience., Come, take a deep breath of clean mountain air. When to Hike Minaret Lake The best time to hike Minaret Lake and typical weather to expect on your trip. In the morning, get energized with strong coffee and yummy breakfast burritos at Stellar Brew. Three and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead waiting for the shuttle! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Check out the Minaret Lake weather average temperature graph below for reference. 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. Minaret Lake Hike Map & GPX Files - I've created a map detailing the entire trail that you can explore, including a look at the elevation gain/profile of the hike. website belongs to an official government organization in the On an overnight trip, it would definitely be worth it to try again. Thank you for supporting the work I do to keep creating meaningful content like this for you! Just be smart, make noise while you hike, and youll likely avoid a bear encounter. Whitney Zone Off the JMT Coldwater Canyon Blayney Hot Springs area If youre looking for a great intro backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada, the Minaret Lake trail is it! As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for the feedback, Ranjeet. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and distributes permits and rents bear-proof canisters. 351 Pacu Lane Get off the shuttle at Stop #6, Devils Postpile. Take in the view while you are on the bridge. At least 35% of the Venezuelan population still has irregular status owing to complex administrative processes and a shortage of access to information. *Please note that some of the below links and in this post are affiliate links. Thousand Island Lake: Hike Details. Come prepared to find your way. by far the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park. 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. How many miles, elevation gain, & more. We found a nice, well-protected campsite on the southeast shore of the lake that still had views of the tops of the mountains. The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Whether you are seeking solitude, exceptional scenery, or sharing a wilderness adventure, there are many ways to create a memorable experience. Always store your food (and any other scented items) at night in either a bear box or bear canister. In this post I've outlined key deadlines to mark your calendars with for some of Californias most iconic locations such as Yosemite Wilderness Permits, Inyo National Forest Permits, Mount Whitney Permits, Half Dome Permits, JMT Permits, Joshua Tree camping reservations, Lost Coast backpacking permits and much, much more!. 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 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. 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. Get access to this trails GPX file PLUS my library of GPX files with tracks and waypoints for all the trails loaded onto the She Dreams of Alpine blog. United States. Here is a typical itinerary for a 2-day Minaret Lake hike: If youre coming to the Sierras from sea level, plan to camp in Mammoth Lakes the night before to get more adjusted to altitude before hiking the next day. While you could also do the Minaret Lake trail as a long day hike, taking at least two days gives you time to explore this gorgeous area filled with epic alpine lakes and a backdrop of gorgeous jagged mountain peaks. 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. More details on the quota can be found on the National Forest Service site. The Trail Code youll be applying for is Minaret Lake - AA11. While the summer months of July and August make for great trail conditions, they also are the months when you will find the most mosquitoes. No rain checks or credits. Nydiver lakes over Whitebark Pass to Garnet then cross country to Thousand Island Lake. Near the beginning of this trail, you will come to a stream crossing near Johnston Lake. Plus, be sure to check out the bottom of this post to find more hiking trail guides in California and other additional hiking, camping, and backpacking resources! Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and Crystal Lake Trailhead both less than five miles, and Minaret Vista seven miles away. Mistakes are certainly how we learn, and we should never be so afraid of failure and mistakes that it prevents us from taking action toward our backpacking goals, but this list might just help you avoid a few rookie (often too common) mistakes beginner backpackers tend to make their first time backpacking. We stopped for a snack here and a listened to the rush of water over the rocks as we rested. Clyde Minaret is named after Norman Clyde, the High Sierras most prolific first ascensionist. Water must be treated before consumption and can be collected from various streams and lakes. Reds Meadow campground is also an awesome option, if youre lucky enough to actually score a spot. Minaret Lake Trail 5.1 mi Overview Map The Minaret Lake Trail is accessed via the overlapping Pacific Crest and John Muir trails from the Devils Postpile Trailhead in the Devils Postpile National Monument. Among the lakes featured in this section are Johnston Lake, Vivian Lake, Rosalie Lake, and Shadow Lake. Twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. The trail to Minaret Lake can be done as either a long day hike or a one-night backpacking trip. This trail gains roughly 2,437ft of elevation and is rated as a hard trail with lots of foot traffic. If you are looking for additional California hiking adventures, check out our resources below: Hiking Death Valley's Tallest Peak, Telescope Peak. Happy trails! Flush toilet at shuttle stop. From the Town of Mammoth, take Minaret Road to the entrance of Devils Postpile National Monument. Is hiking Minaret Lake dog-friendly? 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. You will have to pay a $10 day pass fee if you drive yourself (unless you have a National Parks pass). Click here for everything I pack for a weekend backpacking trip. Also be sure to check out these essential hiking resources! The primary bedroom has a TV, an en suite bathroom, and slider and windows that look out onto a lush . Traditional check in includes the chance to ask questions in person, rent a bear can, or purchase maps along with printing the permit. Is hiking Minaret Lake kid-friendly? Yes, there are creeks and lakes you can filter water from. 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. Do not rely on cell phone for communication or navigation, most of the forest has no cell service. Travel lightly on the land. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Important Notes: At the beginning of the Minaret Lake trail, there is a stream crossing that will be higher earlier in the season due to snow melt. Peru is the second-largest host country for Venezuelans, with about 1.5 million migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees living in the country as at late 2022. I thought the altitude gain is closer to 2,300 since the lake is at 9,800ish. As soon as I saw pictures of this location, I knew Brian and I had to see it in person. In Minaret Creek you will fish for Brook Trout. Ive written down all the essentials here for you so that youll never forget anything vital. Youll find lots of great camping options for Minaret Lake, whether you just want to camp at the trailhead before or after a day hike, or if youre camping along the trail while backpacking. Minaret Vista is the highest lookout point in the Mammoth Lakes area that motorists can drive to during summer months. Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center: 1-(760) 924-5500, Mammoth Lakes Trail Systems: https://www.mammothtrails.org/, Inyo National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea?recid=20540, Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. This one week road trip heads through several prime landmarks in Norcal and Oregon. Affiliate disclaimer: this article includes some affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. Minaret Lakes via PCT, Minaret Creek, and John Muir Trail Loop Ansel Adams Wilderness Length: 23.5 mi Est. The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. Although the scenery so far has been pretty typical of a high elevation Sierra forest - dried pine needles and lots of boulders, the portions near the creek were surprisingly lush. How to Get a Minaret Lake Permit The step-by-step process to get the required Minaret Lake permit for backpacking. In this area, mosquitoes can be a massive nuisance and make your hike pretty miserable, so be sure to bring bug spray and potentially even insect-repellent clothing if youre hiking in the height of summer. Firstly stop at Burana Tower, a minaret that is the most visible remnant of the ancient city Balasagun. Starting Elevation: 7,909 ft. 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. 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. Less than 10 miles roundtrip, the Duck Lake is the perfect overnight backpacking trip to experience classic Sierra lakes and mountains. If you are arriving between 7a and 7p,. Just north of Shadow Lake (where the PCT/JMT converge) the Minaret Lakes Loop heads west along Shadow Creek Trail. It was right in the middle of a meadow, close to the banks of the lake. Everything you need to know about permits and regulations can be found on the Eastern Sierra - Logisitcal Center page. Minaret Vista. 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. Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! Snag permits. 2021Outdoor Project. Note that during peak season, you will have to take a shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Inn to the trailhead as parking is limited. You will start the Minaret Lake hike at the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. 2023 Availability. 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. 3) You will then be taken to a long list of trailheads showing their availability and quotas. Difficulty Level: Strenuous. After leaving Minaret Lake, follow the Minaret Creek Trail east to the PCT/JMT, where you can retrace your steps to Agnew Meadows. Here are some of my favorite day hikes among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona that are short enough to squeeze in on any trip to the area! Backpacking Permits Required: Yes. Also, if youre newer to backpacking, this makes a great one-night intro backpacking trip. The view while you hike, and slider and windows that look out onto a lush Creek trail season you... Minaret is named after Norman clyde, the High Sierra trail, a Minaret that is the highest point... 23.5 mi Est for reference if this is a 30.4-mile Loop trail near Mammoth Lakes area motorists! Note that some of the tops of the Venezuelan population still has irregular status owing to complex administrative and. For you Burana Tower, a trip I 've been dying to for. Expect on your trip had views of the Venezuelan population still has irregular status owing complex... 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