Makes me want to slide down the entire thing, much faster than hiking back down the switchbacks! 1) Go to the Recreation.gov website and search for Inyo National Forest Wilderness permits. 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. Please Leave No Trace. 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. This trail gains roughly 2,437ft of elevation and is rated as a hard trail with lots of foot traffic. Single room and boat options available. In the summer, it would be splendid to go swimming here, but with the cold temperatures dipping my feet in would have to do. 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. This area of the Eastern Sierras is filled with a variety of wildlife, but the biggest concern is black bears. | shedreamsofalpine.com, The Ultimate 3-5 Day Backpacking Packing List (+ Backpacking Checklist PDF ) | Dont hit the trails without double checking if you have all the backpacking gear you need. After a resting and scarfing down our lunches, we decided to spend some time exploring the lake shore. From this point, youll be alternating between forest and rocky landscapes for about three miles. Do not leave food unattended., In campgrounds and parking areas with bear proof lockers, all food and scented items must be removed from vehicles and secured in the lockers. 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. 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. 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. You will have to pay a $10 day pass fee if you drive yourself (unless you have a National Parks pass). 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. planning and preparing for a wilderness trip (PDF), rules for specific areas where food storage containers are required, 60% of spaces are released 6 months in advance, on the matching date (example entry date of July 4 opens on January 4), 40% of spaces are released 2 weeks in advance, on the same day of the week (example entry date of Tuesday July 4 opens on Tuesday June 20), Signed permit must be in group leaders possession, Everyone in group must start on entry date & location on permit, You cannot exceed group size stated on permit, Groups cannot combine to exceed 15 people, Permit is only valid for one continuous wilderness trip, For trips ending at Mt Whitney (Whitney Portal) the permit must specify exit point of, Print trip informatin to leave with a friend (recomended). Doable in a short weekend backpacking trip, the jagged peaks of the Minarets are some of the most dramatic scenes in the Sierra. After a long day on the trail, we stumbled into Mammoth Brewing Company for some well-deserved burgers and beers. If you see "W" on the reservation page it means the quota for 6 month advance is fully booked. by far the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. for the process. Bundled up in our puffy, down jackets, the two of us headed south on the John Muir Trail (JMT) toward Devils Postpile. Nice pics and description. This is a good choice if you dont have a lot of time in the area or if youre looking for a challenging day for training. You can stop for water or to use the bathroom at the ranger center, then begin your hike right from there. Minaret Lake. It takes approximately 8 hours to do this as a day hike. In the morning, get energized with strong coffee and yummy breakfast burritos at Stellar Brew. Wilderness permit required year round for overnight trips. The mysterious lake where UFOs are seen and ships and planes disappear 2023-02-26T14:51:40.569Z Al-Basil Hospital in Tartous.. the earthquake wounded were discharged and they are in good condition.. and continuous readiness at any time 2023-02-26T14:51:34.885Z You will have to plan ahead in order to backpack, since an Inyo Wilderness permit is required in order to camp. 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. Whether you are seeking solitude, exceptional scenery, or sharing a wilderness adventure, there are many ways to create a memorable experience. Then onto the destination of today - Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. If youre looking for a great intro backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada, the Minaret Lake trail is it! 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. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. Journey to the Kel Suu lake; To the blooming valley of Karkara. However, these days, wildfires can definitely be a concern in summer and fall, so keep that in mind. The views open up for a bit just after four miles, and you can begin to see the minaret spires in the distance. Flush toilet at shuttle stop. From Cecile Lake. Permits are required for overnight camping and backpacking trips and can be obtained at www.recreation.gov. Starting Elevation: 7,909 ft. Is hiking Minaret Lake dog-friendly? This is a place for fellow hikers and backpackers in Southern California to organize meet ups, post gear 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! Finally we started seeing pools of water, and eventually we arrived on the shore of gorgeous Minaret Lake! Youll get to experience a gorgeous sunrise and stunning sunset in the Sierra Nevada, and that alone might make it worth it. Refer to this list each time you hike and you will be prepared for almost anything! You will apply for your Inyo Wilderness permit through Recreation.gov. I think September is the most wonderful time of the year to hike in the Sierra Nevadas. Everything you need to know about permits and regulations can be found on the Eastern Sierra - Logisitcal Center page. Mammoth Lakes offers many camping options, from developed campgrounds to dispersed camping. 2023 Availability. Permits required YEAR ROUND for overnight trips to Ansel Adams, John Muir, Hoover, & Golden Trout Wilderness areas, Group leader is responsible to ensure everyone in their group understands & obeys the conditions of the permit, All wilderness permits are reserved online. 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. We provide tools and tips to discover More details on the quota can be found on the National Forest Service site. ) or https:// means you've safely These junctions come at 5.95, 6.75, and 7.45 miles from Agnew Meadows. This x-country path from lake to lake corresponds to Roper's Sierra High Route. The temperature is usually perfect, plus there are far fewer mosquitos. This out and back trail is popular among backpackers and day hikers looking to explore into the Eastern Sierra. The big-ticket infrastructure projects could be seen past the rows of derelict homes, where modern public infrastructure was built by the banks of scenic Lake Lanao. Have you ever been to Minaret Lake? Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. The parking shuttle provides transportation from your car to/from Main Lodge and at all the parking stops along Minaret Rd/Hwy 203. . I always recommend downloading a GPX file onto a GPS device, that way you can check in from time to time to be sure youre on the right trail. Important Minaret Lake Safety Tips Tips about the top hazards to expect along the Minaret Lake trail. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Inyo National Forest Difficulty Level: Strenuous. Earlier or later in the season (June or October), you could potentially encounter snow, which would definitely make the trail more of a challenge and potentially be dangerous. All rights reserved. Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and Crystal Lake Trailhead both less than five miles, and Minaret Vista seven miles away. Put on your pack and hit the trail. Day Hiking vs Backpacking Minaret Lake Explore which option is best for you! This trail has some elevation gain, but its fairly spread out over the whole hike. Hiking to Minaret Lake out & back definitely makes for a long day, but it is doable. Hike Type: Overnight Difficulty Level: Difficult Food Storage: There are two bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Its about protecting what sustains us. I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! There is very limited parking at the ranger station, and you are only allowed to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead if you arrive before 7am and are day hiking. Its about nourishment and learning. Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. I thought the altitude gain is closer to 2,300 since the lake is at 9,800ish. Back in the forest, take the first log to the left to cross the creek again. Also, if youre backpacking, set up your camp farther away from water, where wind will help keep some of the mosquitoes away. As the sun started to set, the light rays created by the shadows of the peaks became more and more pronounced. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit. | shedreamsofalpine.com. 2h 40m Easy 4.6 (412) You purchase your $15 round-trip ticket and get on the shuttle at the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center (make sure to keep your ticket for the return trip!). In that case, its probably worth spending a night in Mammoth Lakes before the hike in order to give your body a little time to adjust. Hike Type: Overnight. | shedreamsofalpine.com, The Stress-Free Guide to Getting John Muir Trail Permits: 5 Simple Steps to Rocking the JMT Permit Process & All of Its Quirks | This post will guide you through the step-by-step process to getting permits for the John Muir Trail. It was right in the middle of a meadow, close to the banks of the lake. 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. Apparently the log bridge washed away a few years ago. Waste water should be scattered at least 100 feet away from any water source., Dont cut switchbacks, shortcutting damages the trail and adds to erosion., No drones, they are prohibited in wilderness., No loud audio devices, let the sounds of nature be part of the wilderness experience., Campfires are restricted in many areas, wood growth is very slow at high elevation and what little wood exists helps sustain the natural soil, plant and animal community., Do not camp on vegetation, these fragile areas are easily damaged. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, Distance: 21 miles (hiking as a loop) Elevation Gain: 3,300. Traditional check in includes the chance to ask questions in person, rent a bear can, or purchase maps along with printing the permit. All Locations > California > High Sierra > 04 - Ritter & M > Clyde Minaret. 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