Nestled among soaring 13,000 foot peaks, the Little Lakes Valley is one of the most stunningly beautiful alpine valleys in all of California. Holding somewhere around a dozen alpine lakes and accessed via a short and easy trail, this is one of the best places to enjoy big mountain terrain for not a lot of effort!
At an elevation of over 10,000 feet, the Mosquito Flat Trailhead at the base of the Little Lakes Valley is the highest elevation trailhead in the entirety of the Sierra Nevada. This high altitude starting point makes it downright easy to reach some incredible mountain scenery. If you’re visiting Mammoth and really want to get into the big mountains, but maybe aren’t the most experienced hiker, this is the trail for you!
Miles/Elevation:
8.2 miles
1,122 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.
Much of Inyo National Forest does not require fees for day use, though some limited access locations may require fees. There is no fee to park at the Mosquito Flat Trailhead.
About The John Muir Wilderness:
There is no greater conservationist than John Muir, and there is no greater wilderness than the one which bears his name! Containing over 650,000 acres of wild lands, this protected region lies along the Sierra Crest near the eastern edge of the range. The eastern escarpment of the Sierra rises up to 8,000 feet in extremely dramatic fashion, which allows for incredibly dramatic views in the area.
The John Muir Wilderness is bounded by the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the North, the Golden Trout Wilderness in the south, and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Wilderness to the west. To the east lies more accessible land in Inyo National Forest and the deserts beyond. There is a minor branch of the wilderness which juts south along the western edge of Kings Canyon National Park.
With nearly 600 miles of hiking trails, this wilderness truly is a hikers paradise. This region contains many of the highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada, including Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. Beyond Mt Whitney, there are 57 peaks with an elevation of 13,000 feet or more in the wilderness!
For day hikers, mountaineers, rock climbers, or fishermen, this place is magical, but it may be at its best when used for backpacking! The John Muir Trail, a 200+ mile backpacking route traverses the wilderness along with the trio of Sierra Nevada national parks, and a major chunk of the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the wilderness as well!
The John Muir Wilderness experiences heavy use and is the second most visited wilderness in the U.S.. Overnight access is strictly limited, and permits are required for all overnight use, as well as some day use areas like the Mt Whitney Trail.
Getting To The Eastern Sierra:
The first challenge in getting to this trailhead is to get to the Eastern Sierra. The closest towns with real facilities are either Mammoth Lakes or Bishop .
Located in the desert of eastern California, Bishop is a surprisingly remote place considering it’s in California. The closest sizable city is Reno, about three and a half 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 Bishop 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:
Roadtripping to Mammoth? Check out all of our road trip planning tips!
Take highway 395 south for 15 miles from Mammoth or north 21 miles from Bishop. Upon reaching Toms Place, turn onto Rock Creek Road. Continue straight to stay on Rock Creek Road through the first intersections. Stay on Rock Creek Road for 10 miles until you reach the parking area at the end of the road. Be aware the final approach to the parking lot is one lane. The parking area is large, but this is a very popular trailhead so arrive early to ensure parking.
Tips:
- Go on a weekday or arrive early to ensure parking.
- Watch for elevation sickness. This is a very high elevation hike if you’re not acclimated.
- Continue on to Morgan Pass, the Treasure Lakes, Chickenfoot Lake, or Ruby Lake for a longer hike.
The Little Lakes Valley Trail:
From the trailhead, begin up the trail as it follows the right bank of Rock Creek. There are one or two early intersections basically right at the trailhead, but continue straight to stay on the main trail.
The first half mile will take you up a mellow incline while you gain about 200 vertical feet. The trail quality throughout the day is generally very good, but here as well as later on there are some areas of rougher steps and rocks.
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
After a short climb that may feel tough due to the elevation, you’ll reach the top of the first slope and earn the first of many amazing views. At the top of this first climb, you’ll already have an incredible look up the entire valley to the high 13,000 foot peaks beyond. Also at the top of this first climb is the first lake of the day. Mack Lake will be on your left nestled a bit below the trail!
This is bear country so make sure you’re bear safe!
Stay straight at the next intersection. Taking a right would have you heading for Ruby Lake and Mono Pass, and while that’s a nice hike too, it’s not the route for today! A half mile past this intersection, you’ll reach the second lake of the day, Marsh Lake.
Marsh Lake is named such because it has some marshy terrain surrounding it (I know, crazy right). There’s a really short branch trail that reaches the water’s edge. It’s worth taking a quick walk over to Marsh Lake, but this won’t be the highlight of your day!
Just up the trail from Marsh Lake is Heart Lake. Apparently Heart Lake is shaped like a heart, but you really can’t see it from the trail. Heart Lake has some really nice views with the high peaks beyond in the background, but again this won’t be the highlight of the day!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when you’re hiking!
Continuing on, the next lake is Box Lake. The trail will climb up and away from Heart Lake, and by the time you reach Box Lake, the trail will be about 50 feet above the water. The water’s edge would be an easy scramble down the hill, but the view is great from up top so really no need!
Driving up 395? Make sure you have the Top Down Lifestyle playlist!
Still marching on, you’ll soon reach Long Lake. Long Lake might be the nicest lake in the valley. The water is crystal clear. The trail passes right along the lake’s shore, and the views are unsurprisingly awesome! This might be the highlight of your day!
Emerald Lake is another nice and easy hike in Mammoth!
If you thought we were done at Long Lake, you’d be wrong. It’s pretty crazy just how many lakes are in this valley, but nonetheless there’s more to see.
After passing Long Lake, the trail returns to the forest and will actually not pass any lakes for a couple of minutes. Crazy to think, but it’s true! You’ll begin hiking towards the left side of the valley and Morgan Pass beyond. After a quick quarter mile, you’ll reach an intersection. To the left is Chickenfoot Lake. I didn’t actually check out Chickenfoot since it isn’t a part of the main chain, but that’s another body of water you could check out here!
Convict Lake is a stunning place to hike just outside Mammoth!
Beyond Chickenfoot Lake, the trail branches again. To the left is Morgan Pass and the Morgan Lakes, but to continue to the Gem Lakes, stay right. By now, you’ll be at nearly 11,000 feet, and the highpoint of the day’s hike. If you’re not acclimated you’ll certainly feel it up here, but the Gem Lakes are very close!
After the split below Morgan Pass, you’ll almost immediately begin seeing the numerous small Gem Lakes. Most of them are pretty obscure and not very memorable, but if you want to check them all out go for it. The real star of the show is the final Gem Lake.
Just a few feet beyond the lower Gem Lakes is the highlight of the Gem Lakes chain! I don’t know what to call it, but it’s definitely the best! This final Gem Lake is situated in a bowl below sheer granite faces and steep boulder fields. Many of the local high peaks are not visible here due to the cliffs directly behind the lake, but it’s still a beautiful spot. This and Long Lake are definitely my top two lakes in this valley!
If you want a challenge head north and try the 18 mile Thousand Island Lake Loop!
For the adventurous, there are even more lakes above the Gem Lakes that could be pretty easily reached. There is a group of four lakes known as the Treasure Lakes just above the boulder fields beyond and to the right of Gem Lake. Either scramble straight up the boulder field or follow one of the small streams feeding the Gem Lakes to reach them!
However you end your hike, the return trip to the trailhead is a simple return journey on the same trail. The hiking is pleasant, the incline is gentle, and all around this valley is just a pleasure to hike in! After a fantastic 8 miles, you’ll be back at the trailhead and done with a great hike!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
The views this hike provides are phenomenal. The trail quality on this hike is fantastic. There are a ton of stunning alpine lakes. You can easily access high alpine terrain. On paper that all might sound like a 10/10, and honestly the views and overall quality of this trail are 10/10 level.
However, this hike is over 8 miles long. At 8 miles, I can find you numerous trails that will be more memorable, have just as good of views, and will have exposure or scrambling. Maybe saying numerous is an exaggeration, but when Angel’s Landing is only about 6 miles, the bar is really high.
This is a great hike, and you will not be sorry for doing it. If you’re not a huge hiker but want exposure to alpine terrain and great views, this is literally a perfect trail. However, it’s not a 10/10 because it’s not memorable enough to be a bucket list level hike that you’ll be talking about for years to come. There are simply other trails that are better, even though this one is great.
Pros:
- Amazing views
- Excellent trail quality
- Easy access to alpine terrain
Cons:
- No scrambling, exposed trail, or drop offs
- Very busy
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike The Little Lakes Valley:
The Eastern Sierra in general have an excellent climate for hiking, and that holds true for the Little Lakes Valley. 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 sometime in early June until 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 in 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:
Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes | Map, Guide – California | AllTrails
Little Lakes Valley Trail – Inyo National Forest
Little Lakes Valley Trail: Hiking to 8 Lakes Near Rock Creek – California Through My Lens
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