Above the town of Mammoth Lakes, the stunning Ritter Range dominates the skyline of the high Sierra. Perhaps the most visually stunning feature of this range are the Minarets, and nestled at their base is Minaret Lake.
Requiring a long hike through sub alpine forests, this trail is more commonly done as a backpacking outing, but we did it in a day. Starting from Devils Postpile National Monument, this hike quickly takes you into the Ansel Adams Wilderness as you pass mountain streams, alpine lakes, and finally reach the incredible Minaret Lake itself!
Miles/Elevation:
15.1 miles
2,461 feet vertical gain
About Inyo National Forest:
At nearly 2 million acres, Inyo National Forest is a massive area of soaring peaks, desert, ancient forest, and incredibly rugged alpine terrain. Inyo contains the Big Pine Lakes, Mt Whitney, the lower 48’s highest peak, along with some of the world’s oldest living things, the ancient bristlecone pines.
Covering large swathes of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, as well as much of the Owens Valley, Inyo National Forest actually is one of the least forested national forests in the country. First protected by president Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, the forest was initially created to facilitate the creation of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Nowadays, Inyo National Forest is much more well known as a world class outdoor destination. With renowned wilderness areas such as the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Golden Trout Wilderness, and the John Muir Wilderness, many of the best backpacking routes in the country pass through Inyo.
In addition to backpacking, there are many other amazing locations in Inyo National Forest that can be easily accessed in a day, either by hiking or by car. These include Mammoth Lakes, Convict Lake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, June Lake, and Mt Whitney.
About the Ansel Adams Wilderness:
Split between Inyo National Forest, Sierra National Forest, and Devils Postpile National Monument, the Ansel Adams Wilderness is an extensive area of protected land in the Sierra Nevada. Named for the acclaimed wilderness photographer Ansel Adams, this region contains some of the most impressive scenery in the entirety of the Sierra Nevada.
While the mountains here aren’t as high as many of the peaks in the neighboring John Muir Wilderness, the highlights of the wilderness are visually just as stunning. The highlight here is the Ritter Range, a jagged, darkly colored range of peaks running right through the Ansel Adams Wilderness. There isn’t a more ruggedly beautiful stretch of mountains anywhere in California!
This wilderness is known for its hiking and backpacking, and at over 232,000 acres and 349 miles of trails, there is plenty here to explore! Both the legendary John Muir Trail and the equally legendary Pacific Crest Trail pass through this wilderness area, but there are many shorter day hiking opportunities as well!
The Ansel Adams Wilderness sees very high usage, so use is limited in many cases. Permits are required for all overnight travel. Trailhead access in Devil’s Postpile is limited. Secure, bear proof storage, is required for food items in certain areas of the wilderness. Campfires are also prohibited above treeline as well as around certain water features. Be sure to adequately research any trip you take into the wilderness!
About Mammoth:
Located on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, Mammoth is a small mountain community known for great skiing, alpine lakes, and world class hiking. The town itself, Mammoth Lakes, named for the numerous nearby lakes, has about 7,000 people, and is one of the largest communities for hours in any direction.
At around 8,000 feet of elevation, Mammoth lies just above the desert treeline. Head out of town and within a mile you’ll be in the scrubland of the high desert. Head towards the high peaks of the Sierra and you’ll very quickly enter the alpine pine forest!
Mammoth Mountain is home to the area’s top ski resort. At just over 11,000 feet, this volcanic complex gets great snow in winter, and in the summer is converted into a mountain biking mecca!
Above the town, the lakes basin offers tons of camping and outdoor recreation. Situated around Lake Mary, Lake George, Horseshoe Lake, Twin Lakes, and others, campgrounds like Coldwater and Lake Mary provide hundreds of wooded sites. Just don’t expect much for phone coverage up here!
Getting To Mammoth:
The first challenge in getting to this trailhead is to get to the Eastern Sierra. The closest town is Mammoth Lakes, and that will be most people’s base camp when hiking to Minaret Lake.
Located in the high desert of eastern California, Mammoth is a surprisingly remote place considering it’s in California. The closest sizable city is Reno, about three hours to the north. Los Angeles and Las Vegas are both a bit over 4 hours away, and the Bay Area is about 6 hours away.
The main highway to access Mammoth and the broader Eastern Sierra area is highway 395. 395 runs from just north of the Los Angeles area all the way north to the Canadian border. Reno to Bishop is a straight shot down 395, and Los Angeles is a straight shot north on 395.
There are a couple of small airports in the area, namely Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. However, commercial flights are either sporadic or non-existent. Driving from a larger metro is the easiest way to access the Eastern Sierra for most.
Getting to the Trailhead:
If you want another challenge head north and try the 18 mile Thousand Island Lake Loop!
From Highway 395, take the highway 203 exit towards Mammoth. Continue through town and turn right onto Minaret Road to stay on 203. Continue past the ski area to Minaret Summit.
Minaret Summit marks the beginning of the restricted use area that requires you to deal with some red tape. Beyond Minaret Summit, the road is closed to passenger vehicles between 7 am and 7:30 pm. You’ll either need to get an early start and beat the road closure, or take the shuttle bus from Mammoth Mountain. Be warned, even if you drive in yourself before the closure, you will have to pay a fee upon your exit if the gate is manned.
Beyond Minaret Summit, follow Postpile Road for about 7 miles. There is a large parking lot at the trailhead which is next to the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. After 7 miles, turn right onto Devils Postpile Road. Continue straight until you reach the large parking area.
Tips:
- Wear lots of bug spray, especially early in the season.
- The road accessing the trailhead closes each day around 7 am. Arrive well before then to guarantee parking.
The Minaret Lake Trail:
To Minaret Lake:
From the parking area near the ranger station, head south until you reach the bridge crossing the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. From the bridge and just across, there is a very nice look at Soda Springs Meadow. There are no high peaks here, but it is a truly beautiful place to start your hike.
Hike to Ediza Lake for another up close view of the Minarets and Ritter Range!
After a flat first half mile to start the day, the trail begins to climb. From the beginning of the climbing, it’s a sustained mile or so of uphill hiking. During this first climb, you’ll hit an intersection. Go straight through there, but note this is a pretty major intersection. By continuing straight you are hiking on the John Muir Trail, and if you were to turn right, you’d be on the PCT!
Convict Lake is a stunning place to hike just outside Mammoth!
Atop the first climb of the day around 2 miles into your hike you will reach and cross Minaret Creek. At this first crossing, Minaret Creek is pretty big, approaching a river in my eyes. You’ll be more or less following the creek the rest of the day!
After the crossing of Minaret Creek, the trail begins on a relatively uneventful stretch through the subalpine pine forest of the Sierra. The Ansel Adams Wilderness has lots of rolling hills and forests before you reach the high peaks, and this trail is no exception. There are a couple of nice spots where the trail overlooks the creek, but mostly it’s a walk through the woods for a while.
Check out Heart Lake for an easy hike in Mammoth!
The next major milestone of this trail is a large, cascading waterfall, next to the trail. This waterfall is super cool, but isn’t a waterfall in the traditional sense. The water never truly falls, it glides down an angled stone slope as the trail heads up the slope right next to it.
Emerald Lake is another nice and easy hike in Mammoth!
The trail along the waterfall picks up and the climbing gets steeper than it has since early in the day. There’s a few switchbacks and very little shade, so it can get hot here! When you crest the top of this climb and reach the top of the falls, your final destination will finally be in sight. Laid out on the horizon is the Ritter Range and the Minarets! These high peaks loom over Minaret Lake, so while they’re now in sight, there’s still a ways to go.
The Mammoth Crest Loop is one of the best difficult hikes in Mammoth!
The forest will now start to thin out. The higher elevations are less hospitable for trees, so while you won’t be in lush forest, there are more consistent views!
The closer you get to Minaret Lake the rougher the terrain gets and the steeper the climbing gets. The steepest parts of the entire day are on the final approach. As the peaks begin to loom above you, the trail will enter a final set of switchbacks through rocky terrain. Signs of the lake are everywhere. Streams lace the hillsides, and small ponds and sitting water fill all of the surrounding depressions.
Driving up 395? Make sure you have the Top Down Lifestyle playlist!
Continue climbing as the views go from great to incredible! You’ll crest a hill and expect to see the lake, but it won’t be there. Then you’ll crest another hill and see water, but it still won’t be the lake! There’s a few “false summits” as you approach and begin expecting to see the lake, but before long you’ll be there!
At Minaret Lake:
The near side of Minaret Lake has large boulders and granite slabs making up its shoreline, and from these perches the view is incredible. Minaret Lake is a mid-sized alpine lake, but the peaks above are anything but average! The Minarets, as this collection of spires is called, are some of the most spectacular in the entire Sierra Nevada, and this is one of the best places to get a close up look!
The Minarets are some of the most vertical and jagged peaks I’ve ever seen, and if you’re thinking it would be fun to continue on and climb them, you better be prepared. The Minarets are not something you can walk up. Be prepared for legitimate rock climbing to summit these peaks!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when you’re hiking!
However, for those looking to continue on to more hiking, there are options. Beyond Minaret Lake there are a pair of even higher lakes. Cecile Lake and Iceberg Lake are rarely reached by day hikers, but for adventurous backpackers they are worthy goals! There is also the Volcanic Ridge, a less noteworthy peak just above Minaret Lake that provides some of the best views of the Minarets anywhere!
Whatever you do, enjoy your time in this incredible alpine environment, and then get ready for the hike out!
From Minaret Lake the hike back is a simple return trip along the same trail used to reach the lake. This trail is pretty nice top to bottom so your pace should be pretty good throughout. There isn’t much climbing at all on the hike out, and the water crossings are very manageable. The hiking through the woods can drag a bit, but before you know it you’ll be back at Devils Postpile and done with an awesome day!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
As incredible as Minaret Lake is, this hike just screams 8/10 to me. It honestly is close to the perfect example of an alpine 8/10 hike. There is a great final destination which is reached by a largely uneventful and at times boring trail through the woods.
There are a couple of nice views along the trail, but for the most part you’re in the forest. Some people love forests, and I do enjoy a nice forest, but is walking through a forest as fantastic as walking along cliff edges with panoramic views? Not for me, and there are trails at this length and difficulty that provide those things.
Incredible destination that you should 100% make it to, but certainly not a world class hike getting there.
Pros:
- World class views
- Excellent trail quality
- Limitless backpacking opportunities
Cons:
- Miles of uneventful hiking
- Busy in spots
- Trailhead access can be tricky
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike To Minaret Lake:
The Eastern Sierra in general have an excellent climate for hiking, and that holds true for the Mammoth area. Most days from spring until late fall you will have tons of sunshine, and storms are pretty sporadic, possible, but not daily.
The limiting factor with this hike is snow. Snow can linger into the summer, and early winter storms could snow this area in early in the year. As a general rule, I’d expect this area to be snow free from June until sometime in late October or November.
In terms of the ideal time to visit, I would probably lean towards early summer, just after the trails are clear of snow, or fall. In early summer, the trail should be clear of snow by June, but the mountains will still have snow up high! In fall, you would be able to see some awesome colors as winter arrives!
I think the big one though is that early season fires are much less common than fires in late summer or fall, so you are more likely to have clear, sunny days that are not choked with smoke in the early summer!
Links For Further Reading:
Minaret Lake | Map, Guide – California | AllTrails
Inyo National Forest – Minaret Lake Trail
Backpacking Minaret Lake — Mammoth, CA — Backcountrycow | Backpacking and Outdoor Travel
Hiking to Minaret Lake in Mammoth Lakes, California – Limitless Hiker
Christopher Read
December 19, 2022Second 3 lake pic is big pine