Backpacking Ediza Lake: Hike Details Starting Elevation: 8,100 ft. Single room and boat options available. 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. 2) Click the Explore Available Permits button. Journey to the Kel Suu lake; To the blooming valley of Karkara. Via Pacific Crest Trail>Shadow Creek Trail (overlap . And if youve done this hike before, share your experience in the comments!. On popular summer weekends the quota for permits may run out, so . Come to experience nature and let it refresh your spirit. Only the group leader or listed alternate can pick up or use the permit. 1-Day Tours; 2-Day Tours; 3-4 Days Tours; Marathons! A $5.00 per person recreation fee is charged for all other areas. There are no discounts for annual passes, military, seniors, or children. Contact me here and say hi :). While you are here, be respectful of water, woods, and wildlife. 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. Most people hiking to Minaret Lake will need to take the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttle to access the trailhead. Here well go over the pros and cons of each option. 1 / 6. Day 1: Car at Agnew Meadows Road to Ediza Lake (Shadow Creek). 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. Southeast Face 5.8+ YDS 5b French 16 Ewbanks VI- UIAA 15 ZA HVS 4c British Avg: 3.7 from 77 votes . 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!. | shedreamsofalpine.com, The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Isle Royale (in Lake Superior) | Isle Royale National Park is the least visited national park in America, but is the most revisited. Deep blue waters, nestled in an alpine basin, below craggy spires that seem too jagged to hold themselves up is the reward for the long trek up to Minaret Lake in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains. How dangerous is hiking Minaret Lake? When to Hike Minaret Lake The best time to hike Minaret Lake and typical weather to expect on your trip. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit.. The loop starts and ends at Agnew Meadows, located near Devils Postpile National . Rangers ask that you dont bring bear spray with you in this area. Click here for all important dates for booking CA backpacking permits. Some cross country sections along unmaintained trails that may be difficult to see and not marked well. 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. Near the beginning of this trail, you will come to a stream crossing near Johnston Lake. Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away. 2 Bedrooms; 2 Bathrooms; 8 Guests; The Home. All Locations > California > High Sierra > 04 - Ritter & M > Clyde Minaret. Tagged: backpacking, trip report, CA, Sierras, lakes, Eastern Sierra, NorCal, Mammoth, I'm Alice, a weekend hiker and outdoor adventurer based out of the Bay Area in California. All bedrooms are located on the ground level of the home. Permits are required for overnight camping and backpacking trips and can be obtained at www.recreation.gov. I created the Ultimate Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for you (and it's FREE)! Clyde Minaret is named after Norman Clyde, the High Sierras most prolific first ascensionist. Park here, use the restroom one last time, and be sure to lock away all scented items in the nearby bear lockers. Map Information. Use this JMT permit guide to demystify the whole lottery application process and increase your chances of grabbing a JMT permit. After gaining a little more elevation, we finally saw the entire Ritter Range in all of its glory.Click here for all important dates for booking CA backpacking permits. Suite 200 Sunset . Monday August 21. Outdoorsy women are badass. 5) At this point, youll be taken to an order form page where you will fill in all the necessary information. Back in the forest, take the first log to the left to cross the creek again. 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. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Is hiking Minaret Lake dog-friendly? There will be a trail junction where you will find the John Muir Trail (JMT) separating from the PCT. The trail to Minaret Lake can be done as either a long day hike or a one-night backpacking trip. 4) If you find an available date that works for you, click on the date, then Book Now.. We took our time enjoying the morning light in the trees, and we even happened upon a doe and a fawn. Trash, bathrooms, picnic tables, and bear boxes. For Sale: 2 beds, 2 baths 925 sq. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and fishing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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 . When Michael & I did this hike in late June, the stream was about knee high and VERY cold. The trail never gets too steep but does climb for most of the hike to the lake. planning and preparing for a wilderness trip (PDF), rules for specific areas where food storage containers are required, 60% of spaces are released 6 months in advance, on the matching date (example entry date of July 4 opens on January 4), 40% of spaces are released 2 weeks in advance, on the same day of the week (example entry date of Tuesday July 4 opens on Tuesday June 20), Signed permit must be in group leaders possession, Everyone in group must start on entry date & location on permit, You cannot exceed group size stated on permit, Groups cannot combine to exceed 15 people, Permit is only valid for one continuous wilderness trip, For trips ending at Mt Whitney (Whitney Portal) the permit must specify exit point of, Print trip informatin to leave with a friend (recomended). This is a place for fellow hikers and backpackers in Southern California to organize meet ups, post gear Minaret Lakes John Muir Wilderness: Campfires are prohibited for all areas above 10,000 feet north of the Glacier Divide and above 10,400 feet south of the divide. When traveling in the backcountry, you may with to carry an SOS beacon and communicator. In the summer, it would be splendid to go swimming here, but with the cold temperatures dipping my feet in would have to do. He managed to snap a few photos of Minaret Lake from above though, and considered it all worth it for the views. BUS SHUTTLE INFORMATION: https://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/reds-meadow-and-devils-postpile-shuttle-information.htm. Minaret lake to Nydiver Lakes going past Cecile lake, Iceberg Lake, and Ediza. From Cecile Lake. Once at the top, you are standing at nearly 10,500 feet and will have impressive panoramic views of the Minarets, Mount Ritter, and Banner Peak. 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! PLUS, I love to spoil my readers with a little bit extra as well, so Ive included a list of 20+ of my favorite backpacking food snacks and meals inside of this list for inspiration. We headed counter-clock wise, and I ended up soaking in the sunlight on a little peninsula that is in the middle of the lake while Brian tried to see if he could make it up to Cecil Lake. Always store your food (and any other scented items) at night in either a bear box or bear canister. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. You can stop for water or to use the bathroom at the ranger center, then begin your hike right from there. We took a short footpath to the lake shore and while the lake was not especially scenic, we enjoyed photographing some reflections before hitting the trail again. | shedreamsofalpine.com. Minaret Lake. As with all bears, you should practice standard bear safety principles including (but not limited to) the following: Make noise while you hike so wildlife is never startled by your presence. To narrow your search, use the filters at the top input Overnight, your start date, and group size. These junctions come at 5.95, 6.75, and 7.45 miles from Agnew Meadows. 'We thought catching permit on a fly might just be possible, but they outwitted us totally that first year,' says Steve Brown who owns the fishing operation. Snag permits. Note that during peak season, you will have to take a shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Inn to the trailhead as parking is limited. Map Information Activities . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'backcountrycow_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',826,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backcountrycow_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');You'll most likely be taking the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttleto get to the trailhead. BearVault BV450 Bear Resistant Food Container. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. This backpacking starter kit is filled with 14 pages of my best hiking and backpacking tips to help you learn what it takes to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient outdoor backpacker! Post includes free gear list printable for easy reference. Minaret Lake Hike | Words By Julie Boyd |Photos by Julie Boyd and Brian Callender. After waking up early to catch the sunrise over the lake the next morning, head back down the trail and hike out. Please Leave No Trace. Distance: 21 miles (hiking as a loop) Elevation Gain: 3,300. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. 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. Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Just outside of town, there is plenty of BLM land and National Forest Service land, both of which allow free dispersed camping. Dispose of trash in bear resistant trash cans., Visitors to the Mt. 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. Hiking to Minaret Lake is not particularly dangerous, as it is not at all technical, but be careful at the stream crossing. If you choose to backpack to Minaret Lake, you will need to get an Inyo National Forest Wilderness permit in order to camp overnight. Also be sure to check out these essential hiking resources! 1) Go to the Recreation.gov website and search for Inyo National Forest Wilderness permits. (Please note the below links may contain affiliate links). Its a good idea to take a GPS map to navigate so you dont get off course. At 1.6 miles veer right toward Johnston Lake. In the morning, get energized with strong coffee and yummy breakfast burritos at Stellar Brew. Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Walk-in permits are free of charge. Don't lose your ticket, you'll need it for your return shuttle! All people count for wilderness quotas and fees. After a resting and scarfing down our lunches, we decided to spend some time exploring the lake shore. 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. Devil's Postpile Ranger Station. The final mile to Minaret Lake was the hardest and the steepest. Hey, I did a three day Agnew meadows-thousand island lake via the pct and then looped back to agnew meadows with a stop at Minaret Lake off the JMT. Elevation Gain: ~1,388ft. Phone: 760-873-2483Email: SM.FS.WildPmt_Inyo@usda.gov. 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). Heres what you need to know to get your permit: The Inyo Wilderness permits for most trails including Minaret Lake can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Makes me want to slide down the entire thing, much faster than hiking back down the switchbacks! 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. Whitney, North Fork of Lone Pine Creek, and Trail Crest Exit). Share sensitive information only Close 7 mi 0 ft gain. Several of our trails give entry to the John Muir Trail or Pacific Crest Trail with the opportunity to trek in the longest roadless section of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Apparently the log bridge washed away a few years ago. Finally we started seeing pools of water, and eventually we arrived on the shore of gorgeous Minaret Lake! Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. Then onto the destination of today - Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. They are easily viewed from Minaret Vista, a Forest Service recreation site located a few miles past the Main Lodge of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. 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 believe good things come from people spending time outside. Try this 14.9-mile out-and-back trail near June Lake, California. Hike Type: Out-and-back, day-hike, backpacking, Permit:None required for day hiking, Wilderness Permit required for backpacking. Have you ever been to Minaret Lake? United States. Bear resistant food storage containers are recommended for all wilderness travelers., There are no restrooms in the wilderness., Respect other visitors desire for quiet and solitude. This loop is suitable for trail runners, hikers, and backpackers. 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. It was a chilly, fall morning when we set out on the trail. There are permit here too and these tend to range from 15 to 25lb, although in favourable conditions there's a chance of a fish weighing 30lb or more. In this post, we will cover the following topics to help you plan and prepare for your very own successful Minaret Lakes backpacking adventure: Minaret Lake Trail Stats - All the nitty gritty details for the trail in one spot. Ive written down all the essentials here for you so that youll never forget anything vital. This permit does not include Beck Lake, Fern Lake or northbound of Johnston Meadow on the John Muir Trail. 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. Do not rely on cell phone for communication or navigation, most of the forest has no cell service. The Minaret Lake hike is the perfect way to get a taste of the stunning Sierra Nevadas on a short backpacking trip. Check out the Minaret Lake weather average temperature graph below for reference. Once you select your filters, youll be shown a list of available permits. 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. Again, this is not all the gear you need, so be sure to check out my backpacking gear checklist for my entire list of gear recommendations! This loop is suitable for trail runners, hikers, and backpackers. This itinerary is packed with incredible hikes, waterfalls, rugged coastline, redwoods, caves, and lakes you wont want to miss. Highway 203. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. While we were both pretty exhausted at this point, it was worth mustering up the energy for exploration since the lake is irregularly shaped with lots of rocky coves. Stay to the left on the JMT when it branches off from the PCT, and continue your climb unless you feel like making the detour to Minaret Falls. Difficulty Level: Strenuous. Hiking poles could definitely come in handy here to maintain your balance in the water on slippery rocks. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and distributes permits and rents bear-proof canisters. Pro Tip: Its totally worth it to wake up early to catch the sunrise hitting the Minarets in the morning! Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Backpacking Isle Royale is an incredible experience, but it is logistically tricky to get to Isle Royale This trail guides breaks down all the details to make it easy to plan your own Isle Royale adventure. 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. 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. 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. Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. The trail now mostly follows the Minaret Creek, and we spotted lots of fish in the clear waters darting away in front of us. I thought the altitude gain is closer to 2,300 since the lake is at 9,800ish. The hike down to Minaret Lake takes a little bit of route finding at the beginning as well, but once you drop down to connect to the Minaret Creek Trail, it's all easy downhill on an established dirt hiking trail. Overview. A $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit reservation. Just be smart, make noise while you hike, and youll likely avoid a bear encounter. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. The temperature is usually perfect, plus there are far fewer mosquitos. 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. Also, if youre backpacking, set up your camp farther away from water, where wind will help keep some of the mosquitoes away. | shedreamsofalpine.com, Hiking Mt. | shedreamsofalpine.com, How To Get Half Dome Permits: Behind the Scenes of the Permit Process & Lottery for Both Day Hiking & Backpacking Half Dome | The Half Dome hike is one of the most popular hikes in the US, and. Lake or northbound of Johnston Meadow on the trail to Minaret Lake poles could definitely come in handy here maintain. 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