The Minarets rose over our tents. We watched the final light rays radiating up from behind the mountains glow from yellow to orange before the sky darkened and blue hour set in. You don't need a permit to hike this is a day hike. Makes me want to slide down the entire thing, much faster than hiking back down the switchbacks! Visitors to the Reds Meadow Valley pay a per-person transportation fee which allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus. Finally we started seeing pools of water, and eventually we arrived on the shore of gorgeous Minaret Lake! We headed to bed early in normal backcountry fashion, and woke at dawn to catch the sunrise. The trailhead for this backpacking trip starts at the parking area for Devil’s Postpile. The red, smooth, striped walls make for unique photo opportunities. Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. This entire time we hadn't had a single glimpse of the Minarets that we would be camping beneath. After heading left here, the trail steadily climbs up through the trees, gaining some slight elevation the entire time. Be … Overnight permits can be reserved online through Recreation.gov, and the ones we reserved were for AA09 - High Trail.If you’re unable to get a permit for the High Trail, there are alternative trailheads you can plan around like Shadow Creek and the River Trail. In the summer, from 7am-7pm the road to the trail head is inaccessible to cars. Please remember to check with the local Fish and Wildlife department … Bury human waste away from water sources. - No campfires at Minaret Lakes or Deadhorse Lake; and no campfires above 10,000 ft. see. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. From the Devils Postpile Visitor Center (shuttle stop #6) it is less than a mile to the junction with the John Muir Trail. Three and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead waiting for the shuttle! Ban… Each hiker will need to buy a $8 roundtrip shuttle ticket from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, and you can find parking down the hill. Join us as we discuss the California Fishing License options, fishing rules and fishing regulations. Minaret Lake. Shadow Lake This 8.5-mile hike crosses a picturesque canyon and passes a plunging cascade to visit a mountain lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of Inyo National Forest near Mammoth Lakes. Don't lose your ticket, you'll need it for your return shuttle! 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. Contact me here and say hi :). Once the permit gets canceled it is available for walk ups. Nydiver lakes over Whitebark Pass to Garnet then cross country to Thousand Island Lake. 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. Minaret Lake weather forecast updated daily. Less than 10 miles roundtrip, the Duck Lake is the perfect overnight backpacking trip to experience classic Sierra lakes and mountains. This scenic overlook offers a panorama of the famous Minarets, the backside of Mammoth Mountain and the far-reaching Sierra landscape. Motorized: $25. If you're hiking outside of when the shuttle runs, you can drive to the trailhead yourself. You'll hike along the Minaret Creek past meadows, an enormous waterfall, and eventually you'll see the entire range of the Minarets … 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. Click here for all important dates for booking CA backpacking permits. To purchase more detailed maps or guidebooks of the area, visit sierraforever.org. I scaled the ridge on the eastern shore to get a better vantage point of the multi-lobed lake and enjoyed some peaceful moments watching a fly fisherman steadily cast his line back and forth. Permit in hand, I drive up to the ski area to park and catch the shuttle bus to the trailhead. I got a HD permit this way, a whole bunch of them became available once the time to pick up permits had expired, there seemed to be a lot of these. Although it's not even 9am on a Thursday morning, … During our 3 day trip, we also hiked up to the summit of Mt. 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. Price. ... Map: Tom Harrison – Mammoth High Country All over night backpacking trips require a free wilderness permit that can be obtained at the Inyo National Forest Ranger Station in Mammoth Lakes. Here you'll find blog posts about some of my favorite backpacking and travel adventures. A bridge across the river leads to several trail junctions. Minaret Vista is the highest lookout point in the Mammoth Lakes area that motorists can drive to during summer months. Bishop, CA 93514. Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. Minaret Creek is a stream located just 6.4 miles from Mammoth Lakes, in Madera County, in the state of California, United States, near Mill City (historical), CA. (760)924-5500. It reaches a beautiful setting where overnight backpackers find a lovely high-altitude lake (permit required) right under the iconic Minaret spires of the Ritter Range. Permits are issued at Inyo National Forest visitor centers. Once at the top there … Minaret and Fern Lakes are just a couple of the destinations you … Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away. What to eat while backpacking? 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. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 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. … But to camp overnight, you'll need to obtain a permit like most spots in the Eastern Sierra. - Quota of 10 people permitted to start overnight trips each day from May 1 to November 1 for the John Muir Trail north of Devils Postpile.Trips going toward Minaret Lake, Beck Lake, Fern Lake or South of Devils Postpile are a different permit. The Minaret Lake trailhead starts out at about 7500 ft and ends around 9800 ft elevation with a total of 2300 feet of elevation change. Flush toilet at shuttle stop. To get to the trailhead: Take Route 395 to Route 203 and drive 3.6 miles to Mammoth Lakes. Finally! Minaret Lake should be on every backpacker's list. The Zebra Slot Canyon is one of my favorite hikes in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area. Non-motorized: $5. Although we didn't get glassy lake conditions because of a slight wind in the air, we were treated to smoke-free, crystal clear skies. For reservation and wilderness permit information call (760) 873-2483; or for area information call the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center (760) 924-5500. 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. Permits. After 0.75 miles, we passed the North/South junction for the PCT. List of lakes … We switchbacked back and forth up the side of the mountain until we reached the top of the falls and headed over the ridge. Day one. - Ansel Adams Wilderness … A little while later we were at our intended camp: Minaret Lake. In Minaret Creek you will fish for Brook Trout. It’s challenging but the elevation gain is spaced out enough that you … Since we didn't get to acclimate by sleeping at elevation the night before, we were feeling the altitude and had to take a break every 15 minutes on the final climb to catch our breath. 351 Pacu Lane Explore Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits in Inyo National Forest, California with Recreation.gov. Continuing on the trail looking for a camp site, Backpacking Fontanillis Lake to Dicks Peak — Desolation Wilderness, CA, Sea to Summit Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner Review, like we did for our Thousand Island Lake backpacking trip, click here for my tried-and-true backpacking meals, Backpacking Duck Lake Pass Trail — Mammoth, CA, Wild Willy's Hot Springs — Mammoth Lakes, CA, Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake, and Iceberg Lake Loop - Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA, How I Save Money on Camping and Hiking Gear, New Zealand South Island 10 Day Roadtrip Itinerary for the Outdoor Lover, Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days, Backpacking Lake Aloha to Mt. We found a nice, well-protected campsite on the southeast shore of the lake that still had views of the tops of the mountains. 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. The trail to Lake Ediza is frequently traveled and is usually completed as an out-and-back day hike. The John Muir Trail (and Pacific Crest Trail) passes through this wilderness, and it can be reached from both sides of the Sierra crest. After gaining a little more elevation, we finally saw the entire Ritter Range in all of its glory. 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. TL;DR: Walk up permits are not as hard to get as it may seem. Date Hiked: October 12, 2019. Permits are issued at Inyo National Forest visitor centers. Banner Peak is arguably the most picturesque peak in the Sierra Nevada. You'll be getting off on stop #6 along with the other hikers headed to Devil's Postpile. Compared to Ritter, Banner Peak is much slimmer with a sharp profile; it is surrounded by 1500-2000 feet high vertical cliffs except on its southwest side. Minaret Lake is a 13.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Mammoth Lakes, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. This area falls under Eastern Sierra regulations. It wasn't until we turned a bend late in afternoon that we finally saw the tips of the jagged peaks in the distance above the nearby trees. Here are some of my favorite snacks, breakfasts, lunch, and dinner meal ideas for your next backcountry trip, Outdoor gear is not cheap, so here are a couple of tips I’ve found that have helped me save a little on gear, Here's our 10 day road trip itinerary along with things to do on New Zealand's south island to help you plan your trip. NOAA weather radar, satellite and synoptic charts. Minaret Falls: This is an easy 1.4 mile hike to a cascading waterfall just outside the Monument boundary. Overview Located a few miles west of the bustling ski/vacation resort of Mammoth Lakes, the Agnew Meadows trailhead offers peace and quiet, quick access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Sierra, as well as an easy approach to some of the range's … The trail now mostly follows the Minaret Creek, and we spotted lots of fish in the clear waters darting away in front of us. Normally hikers are required to take a shuttle to reach Devil’s Postpile between June and September. You'll most likely be taking the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttle to get to the trailhead. Signage shows visitors … The mandatory shuttle helps with congestion on the windy roads and runs from about mid June to early September. Open Season: Road closed in winter. The trail gained elevation on rocky ledges, past crystal clear streams, and with partial shading from distinctly high-elevation trees. Inyo National Forest Only two miles in, we decided to have our Triscuits and tuna lunch (click here for my tried-and-true backpacking meals) on the edge of Johnston Lake, since this would be the only other lake we would pass before reaching Minaret Lake, our final destination. Current conditions, warnings and historical records Although smokey conditions can be considered a drawback for many, there is a silver lining of having smoke in the air - sunsets are so much more unique and colorful. The Ansel Adams is located between Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes. Doable in a short weekend backpacking trip, the jagged peaks of the Minarets are some of the most dramatic scenes in the Sierra. The use trail that leads from Minaret Lake up toward Cecile Lake actually climbs the north side of the canyon via some obvious switchbacks at about the midpoint between Minaret Lake and Cecile Lake. Monday August 21. 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. Reach the ski resort after 4 … Suite 200 Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. Aloha Lake is one of the most popular backpacking trips in Desolation Wilderness, CA. Anywho, my permit via recreation.gov was for the Inyo … To prevent erosion, please walk in the middle of the trail and do not short-cut trails even if it is muddy or snowy. After rock hopping across Minaret Creek for the first time of the day, we reached our first lake of the day.. Johnston Lake (8,127')! 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. Ansel Adams Wilderness is located in Mammoth Lakes, California. After lunch we steadily climbed another ~600 feet over another two miles before turning a bend and seeing an enormous waterfall cascading down the side of the mountain! Tents in a meadow off Iceberg Lake Trail below Mount Ritter and Banner Peak A sunset over Ediza Lake from boulders just off Iceberg Lake Trail. The lakes nearby were deep pristine blue. Permits are available on a first-come first-served basis, or through an online reservation system. Minaret lake to Nydiver Lakes going past Cecile lake, Iceberg Lake, and Ediza. Iceberg Lake This short extension off the trail to Ediza Lake heads to a higher lake in a sublime setting below a ridge of steep spires … 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 … The Minaret Lake trail follows Minaret Creek. An Inyo National Forest Wilderness permit for Minaret Lake is required for this trip and can be purchased from recreation.gov. Dates: 8/26 - 8/27Miles: 13 roundtrip (to very edge of the lake)Elevation Change:  2,586 ftTrail Type: Out and backTrailhead: Google MapsPermit Required: Yes for overnight backpacking (issued via Inyo NF), no for dayhiking. Location to obtain permit: Ansel Adams Wilderness-North Trailheads North of Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River: Minarets/Mariposa Ranger District 57003 Road 225 North Fork, CA 93643-9734 (559) 877-2218 : Ansel Adams Wilderness-South Trailheads South of Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River John Muir, Kaiser and Dinkey Lakes … Our first view of the entire Minarets, part of the Ritter Range. All day we could detect the faintest trace of smoke in the air from all the wildfires California has been battling, and as late afternoon rolled around, we could visibly see the haze settling into the basin, even up here at 9,800 ft. That sunset ended up being one of the most memorable I've experienced in the backcountry. Devils post pile up Minaret Creek trail to Minaret Lake. I recorded to gps tracks on Gaia GPS and both were different so these numbers are not 100% accurate but close. Call Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center for more information. There were too many peaks to count, and I can see why this is popular climbing and alpinist spot. Agnew Meadows : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. Minaret Lake is a lake in the Ritter Range, a subrange of the Sierra Nevada, in California.It is located in extreme northeastern Madera County, within the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest.. Minaret Lake is notable for being on the Sierra High Route.. Doable in a short weekend backpacking trip, the jagged peaks of the Minarets are some of the most dramatic scenes in the Sierra. Price — Desolation Wilderness, CA, Zebra Slot Canyon - Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, UT. Also called the Minaret Creek Trail, this is a 6.5-mile (one way) hike that offers a moderate to difficult challenge up to 9,500 feet. Ansel Adams Wilderness: There are multiple destinations within day hiking distance from Devils Postpile in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. Please Leave No Trace. Wilderness permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, 7,543 ft. at Devils Postpile Visitor Center, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=20540&actid=50, Reds Meadow Pack Train is located near Reds Meadow Resort. If going for a walk in permit, be sure to get there early, especially on a weekend, as there are only four spots a day available for walk ins. 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. Click here for a review of my favorite water pump. Recreation.gov is your source for discovering and experiencing America's federal recreation activities and outdoor adventures. Sunset here is a beautiful photo opportunity. The trail follows Minaret Creek to the west and reaches Minaret Lake, set in dark rock at the foot of the Minarets. Cecile has two or so single spots near the lake (in the midst of the rock slide; the best views but no shade during the day). Iceberg had some camping spots on the Ediza side. It is the second highest peak in the Ritter Range, very close to its bigger neighbor Mount Ritter, 200 feet taller. Seeing pools of water, and I can see why this is popular climbing and alpinist spot Pass... Backside of Mammoth mountain and the far-reaching Sierra landscape be on every 's! 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