Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? The lack of permits hinders access . This ended up being a good decision because we saw what was a much more impressive falls further up the trail. Interest in European architecture beyond Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean, is currently thriving. Let us know in the comments! Permits are available on a first-come first-served basis, or through an online reservation system. 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. You can check the weather conditions here: Mountain Forecast One of my favorite resources for mountain weather forecasts when checking a few days before a trip. 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. The National Park Service website has tons of information about parking restrictions, shuttle times, and entry fees. Hiking poles could definitely come in handy here to maintain your balance in the water on slippery rocks. 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! Contact the wilderness permit office if you have questions or need to reissue a permit with corrections. To narrow your search, use the filters at the top input Overnight, your start date, and group size. 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. Share sensitive information only
Come, take a deep breath of clean mountain air. He managed to snap a few photos of Minaret Lake from above though, and considered it all worth it for the views. The Trail Code youll be applying for is Minaret Lake - AA11. '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. Minaret Lake - Cecile - Iceberg - Ediza - Nydiver - basin with little lake to the west of Garnet Lake - west side of Thousand Island Lake: 10 out of 10. Devil's Postpile Ranger Station. | 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. To finalize your permit reservations, youll need to pay a $6 permit fee plus an additional $5 non-refundable per person transaction fee. But to camp overnight, you'll need to obtain a permit like most spots in the Eastern Sierra. Whitney Trail Guide: How to Successfully Summit the Highest Peak in the Lower 48 | This Mount Whitney Trail Guide is your A to Z resource on any and all things involving the Mount Whitney Hike. Call Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center for more information. 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. And definitely dont leave food in your car at the trailhead use a bear locker for anything you dont bring with you on the trail. Usually, black bears are quite scared and skittish around humans, but the bears here can be a little more bold since they are more accustomed to seeing people around. Hiking to Stanford Point | Yosemite National Park, Hiking Cathedral Lakes | Yosemite National Park, Cutthroat Pass Hike | Washington Larch Hikes, Hiking Mount Storm King | Olympic National Park, Mount Watkins Hike | Yosemite National Park. and reservations. Guides. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. 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. (Please note the below links may contain affiliate links). Also be sure to check out these essential hiking resources! Fishing in Minaret and Deadhorse Lakesis for Brook Trout. BUS SHUTTLE INFORMATION: https://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/reds-meadow-and-devils-postpile-shuttle-information.htm. If you have more than one car in your group, leave one of your cars up at Minaret Vista and carpool to the trailhead to have a better chance of getting a spot. 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. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. 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. At this point, Brian and I bemoaned putting on so many layers, and stopped to shed our jackets. If you choose to backpack to Minaret Lake, you will need to get an Inyo National Forest Wilderness permit in order to camp overnight. 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. I think September is the most wonderful time of the year to hike in the Sierra Nevadas. Minaret Lake features gorgeous views everywhere you turn. Day 1: Car at Agnew Meadows Road to Ediza Lake (Shadow Creek). Close How to Get a Minaret Lake Permit - The step-by-step process to get the required Minaret Lake permit for backpacking. The Minaret Lake hike begins in the Devils Postpile National Monument near Mammoth Lakes, California. Important Minaret Lake Safety Tips Tips about the top hazards to expect along the Minaret Lake trail. Yes, there are creeks and lakes you can filter water from. Descent: Cross Class 3 rock towards the Ken-Clyde Notch, down climb this to the start of the climb - a rappel is necessary at one point. How many miles, elevation gain, & more. website belongs to an official government organization in the
The recreation fees are used to finance the on-the-ground wilderness programs in Inyo National Forest. Get a permit to backpack Minaret Lake in Inyo National Forest. And be aware that youll be camping by a lake, which means you could have to deal with some serious mosquitoes, especially during the summer season. Then I went back to bed! Permits are required if you are backpacking & camping, but not for day hiking this trail. Moderate to strenuous. 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. Since the road to this area is closed approximately Mid-October through Mid-June, it is a hike best done during the summer or early fall. camp fires are not permitted and camping is restricted to designated areas. Use this JMT permit guide to demystify the whole lottery application process and increase your chances of grabbing a JMT permit. 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 . At the junction head right toward Minaret Falls (or continue straight to see Devils Postpile, then backtrack to this point), and take the bridge across the San Joaquin River. Now youre ready to hit the trail and have a fantastic adventure hiking to Minaret Lake! Violators will be booted and charged a service fee. This 24 mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. We headed to bed early in normal backcountry fashion, and woke at dawn to catch the sunrise. To prepare and pack for backpacking Minaret Lake, Id love for you to pop over to my backpacking gear checklist and make sure you have everything you need for your trip. We are Brian and Julie, a Bay Area couple making travel work with full-time jobs. Minaret Vista is the highest lookout point in the Mammoth Lakes area that motorists can drive to during summer months. Beginning on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the loop follows the Middle Fork San Joaquin River for approximately 5.7 miles. Distance: 15.6 miles, roundtrip (where you set up camp will vary your mileage slightly) Elevation Gain: 1,870 ft. | shedreamsofalpine.com, How to Get a Mt. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. After 0.75 miles, we passed the North/South junction for the PCT. This path continues winding through the forest, but some of the scenery gets more interesting as Minaret Creek cascades through a shallow, rocky canyon. There are no discounts for annual passes, military, seniors, or children. Just look for the stream flowing out of Cecile Lake to point you in the right direction. How to Get a Minaret Lake Permit The step-by-step process to get the required Minaret Lake permit for backpacking. Depending on the season you choose to hike Minaret Lake, you could encounter snow on the trail, which would make the hike more technical and potentially treacherous. Finally we started seeing pools of water, and eventually we arrived on the shore of gorgeous Minaret Lake! Twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. 1-Day Tours; 2-Day Tours; 3-4 Days Tours; Marathons! A valid Black Pass parking permit must be visible. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. United States government. The Minaret Lake hike is the perfect way to get a taste of the stunning Sierra Nevadas on a short backpacking trip. Snag permits. Leader or alternate leader names cannot be changed or added., No refund if you cancel your reservation less than 12 days before the entry date. 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. Its a good idea to take a GPS map to navigate so you dont get off course. Is hiking Minaret Lake dog-friendly? Minaret Lake. All rights reserved. Remember to leave this place undamaged so it will continue to be what we seek of wilderness., Learn more about planning and preparing for a wilderness trip (PDF) in Inyo National Forest., Wilderness permit is required year round for overnight trips into John Muir, Ansel Adams, Golden Trout and Hoover Wilderness, and Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks. 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. Our trails offer possibilities for hiking, photography, peak bagging, fishing, or simply enjoying the pristine beauty of the High Sierra. The trail starts 0.25 miles from the Devil's Postpile Ranger station. If youre looking for a great intro backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada, the Minaret Lake trail is it! 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, Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake, and Iceberg Lake Loop - Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA, Wild Willy's Hot Springs Mammoth Lakes, CA, How I Save Money on Camping and Hiking Gear, The Ultimate One Week Norcal/Oregon Roadtrip for any Outdoor Adventurer, My Absolute Favorite Hikes in Sedona, Arizona, Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days. The primary bedroom has a TV, an en suite bathroom, and slider and windows that look out onto a lush . There were too many peaks to count, and I can see why this is popular climbing and alpinist spot. This one week road trip heads through several prime landmarks in Norcal and Oregon. Suite 200
As the sun started to set, the light rays created by the shadows of the peaks became more and more pronounced. After heading left here, the trail steadily climbs up through the trees, gaining some slight elevation the entire time. Among the lakes featured in this section are Johnston Lake, Vivian Lake, Rosalie Lake, and Shadow Lake. 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. But specialists are aware that the field is not easy to document, should they wish to go beyond the usual material provided by architectural journals in European languages. 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. Always keep your distance if you see a bear. . How dangerous is hiking Minaret Lake? 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