by far the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park. Complete your camp locations and verify final group size before you print permit. Ive created a map detailing the whole Minaret Lake trail that you can explore, including a look at the elevation gain/profile of the hike. "Run the Silk Road" Marathon Tour; Tien Shan Trail Race marathon "Tien Shan Trail Race" marathon-tour; Trekking Look, I believe every hiker and backpacker should be self-sufficient, and that includes knowing how to practice smart navigational skills in the outdoors. Recreation Map Map showing recreational areas. Many buildings were ready, but without the residents, they were empty. Collectively, they form an arte and are a prominent feature in the Ansel Adams . Now having visited, I can't wait to go back and explore some of the other lakes and peaks in the area! Visitorsto the Reds Meadow Valley pay a per-person transportation fee which allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus. Fromthe Devils Postpile Visitor Center (shuttle stop #6) it is less than a mile to the bridge across the river and several trail junctions. You can mull-over your decision for the first half-mile on the trail. Refer to this list each time you hike and you will be prepared for almost anything! 5) At this point, youll be taken to an order form page where you will fill in all the necessary information. 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. To finalize your permit reservations, youll need to pay a $6 permit fee plus an additional $5 non-refundable per person transaction fee. Load this puppy into your trusted GPS and rest easy knowing you have tracks to follow on your next hike or backpacking trip. Southeast Face 5.8+ YDS 5b French 16 Ewbanks VI- UIAA 15 ZA HVS 4c British Avg: 3.7 from 77 votes . Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. 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. | 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. While this hike is not extremely difficult, it is long, especially as a day hike, which could be too much for younger kids. International flights not included. Permits are required if you are backpacking & camping, but not for day hiking this trail. Then onto the destination of today - Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. In the summer, it would be splendid to go swimming here, but with the cold temperatures dipping my feet in would have to do. Yes! 2h 40m Easy 4.6 (412) To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Its not hard to do, but it does require a little planning ahead. 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! Banner Peak, Thousand Island Lake can be reached in a single day's hike via three different trails, each with a completely different adventurous look & feel. Youll get to experience a gorgeous sunrise and stunning sunset in the Sierra Nevada, and that alone might make it worth it. 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. After having breakfast and packing up our packs, we started our hike out. website belongs to an official government organization in the Continue with Recommended Cookies. Just be smart, make noise while you hike, and youll likely avoid a bear encounter. It was much larger than we imagined, and of course the craggy spires that surround the sapphire blue waters are breathtaking. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. Your furry friend can join you on this trail (just be prepared to navigate a possible stream crossing). BUS SHUTTLE INFORMATION: https://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/reds-meadow-and-devils-postpile-shuttle-information.htm. And if youve done this hike before, share your experience in the comments!. Log onto your account at Recreation.gov to make changes or call the wilderness permit office for Inyo National Forest for reservation assistance (760) 873-2483. 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. While you are here, be respectful of water, woods, and wildlife. It is located in the Sierra Nevada and provides stunning views of the Minarets, a series of jagged peaks in the Ritter Mountain Range, as well as numerous alpine lakes and lush meadows. Whether you are seeking solitude, exceptional scenery, or sharing a wilderness adventure, there are many ways to create a memorable experience. Three and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead waiting for the shuttle! One week before the trip you can print at home or request the permit. Come, take a deep breath of clean mountain air. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, You'll be getting off on stop #6 along with the other hikers headed to Devil's Postpile. If you are like us and hate crowds, we recommend doing this hike in the fall just before the Reds Meadow Road closes for the season. Minaret Lake should be on every backpacker's list. 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. Glacier-fed Minaret Lakes are at the foot of the Minaret Pinnacles in the Ritter Range. Minaret lake to Nydiver Lakes going past Cecile lake, Iceberg Lake, and Ediza. Link to full Permit Printing Instructions After printing you cannot make changes unless you contact the wilderness permit office or go into the visitor center during open hours. Do not rely on cell phone for communication or navigation, most of the forest has no cell service. Everything you need to know about permits and regulations can be found on the Eastern Sierra - Logisitcal Center page. Backpacking Permits Required: Yes. After several series of switchbacks, coupled with a few false promises of arrival, youll get to the lake shore at mile 7.4. Backpacking Ediza Lake: Hike Details Starting Elevation: 8,100 ft. Guides. 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. The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. Brian ended up going off the route and giving up on the adventure since we still had to hike back down and it was getting late in the day. 3) You will then be taken to a long list of trailheads showing their availability and quotas. I am already daydreaming about photographing the morning alpenglow on the spires, and I know Brian is anxious to get to Cecil Lake. (Please note the below links may contain affiliate links). Water must be treated before consumption and can be collected from various streams and lakes. This entire time we hadn't had a single glimpse of the Minarets that we would be camping beneath. Post includes free gear list printable for easy reference. Cant find available permits?You can now sign up to be notified of any permit cancellations via Outdoor Status! So worth the early wake-up call though. You will start the Minaret Lake hike at the Devils Postpile Ranger Station. Itinerary for Hiking the Minaret Lake Trail - Ill walk you through a suggested itinerary for backpacking the trail so you can make your plans accordingly. When traveling in the backcountry, you may with to carry an SOS beacon and communicator. Thanks Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Also, if youre backpacking, set up your camp farther away from water, where wind will help keep some of the mosquitoes away. Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. camp fires are not permitted and camping is restricted to designated areas. It would be a shame to come so far and only see one part of the basin. First established in 1964 as the Minarets Wilderness, the Ansel Adams Wilderness lies immediately southeast of--and contiguous to--Yosemite National Park. Its important that you research your weather conditions before you go, weeks and days before your trip. You can download the GPX files from the Minaret Lake trail map below. Makes me want to slide down the entire thing, much faster than hiking back down the switchbacks! Incredible contrasts of Son Kul; Express tours. Outdoorsy women are badass. There are no discounts for annual passes, military, seniors, or children. Then celebrate your adventure by heading to Mammoth Lakes for hearty burgers and excellent beers from Mammoth Brewing! 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. Most of it was gorgeous but some of that JMT section honestly sucked, although the Minaret Lake day made up for it! In other words, do the 3 passes have sections like that, or are they all trail? Suite 200 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. After 0.75 miles, we passed the North/South junction for the PCT. I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! . Thank you for supporting the work I do to keep creating meaningful content like this for you! Places to explore include the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Golden Trout, Hoover, and South Sierra wildernesses. Just outside of town, there is plenty of BLM land and National Forest Service land, both of which allow free dispersed camping. 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. This 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! Due to its popularity, there is a very structured permit process, and this post covers everything you need to know about grabbing Mount Whitney permits so you can plan your hike up this epic California peak. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. No rain checks or credits. July and August are also good options, though it could get pretty hot then, and youll definitely want to bring your bug spray. Hike Type: Overnight Difficulty Level: Difficult Food Storage: There are two bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Map Information Activities United States government. If you dont already have an account on the site, you will need to create one in order to apply. Devils post pile up Minaret Creek trail to Minaret Lake. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor From the Town of Mammoth, take Minaret Road to the entrance of Devils Postpile National Monument. If you choose to backpack to Minaret Lake, you will need to get an Inyo National Forest Wilderness permit in order to camp overnight. | shedreamsofalpine.com, Hiking 101 - The Essential Hiking Gear List (PLUS Hiking Packing List Printable) | Hiking doesnt need to be overwhelming, but I am a big fan of being prepared for the worst case scenario. Minaret Lake Trail, branching off the John Muir Trail from the Devils Postpile ranger station is the shortest approach, about 7 miles. Although this probably wont cause altitude sickness, it could make the hike much more of a struggle if youre coming from sea level. | 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. The 231,005-acre wilderness is a spectacular setting of alpine meadows, lakes, and rugged peaks that encompass the headwaters of the San Joaquin River. Bury human waste away from water sources. This is something I teach in my backpacking program, but I want to give you a couple GPS options to get started. Sunset . How many miles, elevation gain, & more. Hiking to Minaret Lake out & back definitely makes for a long day, but it is doable. How long does it take to hike Minaret Lake? 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