7 Incredible Day Hikes In Mammoth Lakes

1. Crystal Lake Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 3.2 miles out and back
• Elevation: 839 feet
• Time Needed: 3 hours
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Crystal Lake Trailhead

Crystal Lake Trail is on top of the list for almost anyone heading into Mammoth! This scenic trail features multiple lakes and ends at Crystal Lake that’s known for having clear, blue water. This is a short-day hike that offers incredible views for somewhat little work.

Crystal Lake Trailhead starts by Lake George in Mammoth Lakes Basin. There is parking near the Crystal Lake Trailhead but it’s pretty limited and shared with Lake George visitors and those staying at the nearby campground. This is a very popular trail so come early to secure a parking spot, especially on the weekends.

Crystal Lake Trail is a straightforward 3.2-mile out-and-back trail that can be rated as moderate. This trail is very short but can be a bit strenuous due to the altitude and 839-foot elevation gain. The trail starts with many switchbacks that continue steadily until you reach the lake at the end of the trail.

As you gain more elevation, you will be able to see views of Lake George and Lake Mary appear through the trees. The higher you go, the better the views will get!

At the highest point, you will have a clear, unobstructed view of Mammoth Lakes Basin below. You can take a break here, eat a snack, and enjoy the views before you keep going to Crystal Lake.

You will reach Crystal Lake shortly after which is named after its crystal clear, turquoise water. If you’re brave enough, you can jump in for a swim, but the water here is freezing cold!

Read More: Hiking Crystal Lake Trail In Inyo National Forest

2. Convict Lake Loop

Trail Summary:

• Length: 2.5 mile long loop
• Elevation: 180 feet
• Time Needed: 2 hours
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Convict Lake Marina

Convict Lake is a picturesque lake near Mammoth that features turquoise water, rugged mountain views, hiking trails, and secluded beaches. This area is also popular for fishing, swimming, boating, and backpacking.

Convict Lake is a drive-up lake that is easily accessible from Highway 395. We usually take Highway 395 when driving up to Mammoth and we’ve passed through this area numerous times without realizing that this lake is here.

One of the most fascinating parts about Convict Lake is its unique name. The lake was named after a group of criminals who escaped prison and took refuge here in 1871. Now the lake is known for offering incredible outdoor recreational activities and camping.

The most popular day hike at Convict Lake is a 2.5-mile loop that goes around the entire lake. The trailhead for the Convict Lake Loop starts by the boat dock and travels next to the lake for the entire time. Some side trails lead down to the lake if you want to fish or jump in for a swim, but much of it is overgrown with thick bushes.

The dramatic mountain landscape that surrounds Convict Lake is the result of ancient glaciers that shaped this region. While the glaciers are long gone, the beautiful scenery remains including a rocky shore and turquoise water that looks especially blue on sunny days.

Read More: Hiking Convict Lake Loop In Inyo National Forest

3. Skelton Lake Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 3.4 miles out and back
• Elevation: 853 feet
• Time Needed: 3 hours
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Duck Pass Trailhead

If you’re looking for an excellent day hike in Mammoth, the Skelton Lake Trail is an easy 3.4-mile-long hike that leads to a pristine alpine lake. You also have the option to do this trail as a loop and visit three different lakes including Arrowhead Lake, Skelton Lake, and Emerald Lake.

This is a trail that I’ve hiked several times, including an overnight camping trip at Skelton Lake. It’s an incredibly rewarding hike that is great for beginner hikers, families, and dogs. Along this trail, you can expect to see dramatic mountain landscapes, crystal clear lakes, and just overall incredible scenery.

The Skelton Lake Trail starts at the Duck Pass Trailhead, next to the Coldwater Campground. This trailhead can be easily accessed from Mammoth Lakes town within a quick 20-minute drive.

The trail starts with a steady climb across sandy, rocky terrain in a forest. About a mile in, you will reach a junction for the first lake along this trail – Arrowhead Lake. Don’t miss this turn and be sure to go on a quick detour to Arrowhead Lake!

About 1.5 miles into the trail, you will reach Skelton Lake where you can walk around the shore and enjoy the scenery. If you reserve a backpacking permit ahead of time, you can even camp near this lake and wake up to some jaw-dropping sunrise views.

From there you can turn around and visit Emerald Lake on the way back. Emerald Lake has a deep green color to it with jagged mountains as its backdrop.

Read More: Hiking Skelton Lake Trail In Mammoth Lakes

4. Sherwin Lakes Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 4.3 miles out and back
• Elevation: 885 feet
• Time Needed: 3 hours
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Sherwin Lakes Trailhead

Located on the outskirts of Mammoth Lakes town, Sherwin Lakes is a secluded wilderness trail that doesn’t get as busy as some of the other day hikes in Mammoth. This is a serene 4.3-mile-long wilderness trail that travels through a forest up to an alpine lake.

The Sherwin Lakes Trailhead is located slightly southeast of the Mammoth Lakes town. There is a large designated parking lot for Sherwin Lakes visitors and wilderness hikers.

The trail starts on a narrow dirt path that travels through shrubs and bushes. Soon after the trail turns into a lush forest and stays like that until you reach the lake. As you go higher, the trees will start thinning out and you’ll be able to see mountain views in the distance.

Sherwin Lake has a greenish-blue tint to its color that looks especially stunning in the daylight. Sherwin Lakes is a lovely lake, but in recent years the water level has dropped significantly due to droughts that we experience in California.

When you reach the lake, there is a small area on the north end where you can access the shoreline, hang out, or even get in for a swim. I tried walking around the shoreline but much of it was difficult to access due to large rocks and boulders.

Read More: How To Hike Sherwin Lakes Trail In Mammoth Lakes

5. McLeod Lake Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 1.8 miles out and back
• Elevation: 347 feet
• Time Needed: 2 hours
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Lakes Basin Path / Horseshoe Lake Trailhead

If you’re looking for a relatively easy and quick day hike in Mammoth – put McLeod Lake Trail on top of your list! This trail is only 1.8 miles long so it’s perfect for kids, dogs, families, and beginner hikers.

The McLeod Lake Trail starts by Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth Lakes Basin. There is a large visitor parking lot where you can leave your car for the hike.

The trail starts in an area with many fallen, dead trees. Due to earthquakes, high amounts of CO2 can be found in this area causing the trees to die. Once you head into the McLeod Lake Trail, you will soon start climbing in elevation where the wilderness returns to a healthy pine forest.

The trail to McLeod Lake is only 0.5 miles long each way so you will arrive at the lake very quickly. You can extend the hike by taking a loop around the entire lake before heading back.

McLeod Lake is made of clear water with a shallow sandy shore full of rocks, fallen trees, and boulders. Despite being such an easily accessible trail, it wasn’t overly crowded, especially around sunset. The entire hike felt very serene and peaceful.

If you come up here on a hot, sunny day – bring your bathing suit so you can jump in for a refreshing swim! Swimming is allowed in Mammoth Lakes and nothing feels better for cooling down on a hot hike than a quick swim in an icy alpine lake.

Read More: How To Hike McLeod Lake Trail In Mammoth Lakes

6. Horseshoe Lake Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 1.8 mile long loop
• Elevation: 114 feet
• Time Needed: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Lakes Basin Path / Horseshoe Lake Trailhead

The Horseshoe Lake Trail starts in the same area as the McLeod Lake Trail. The Horseshoe Lake has interesting geological features that are different from other lakes in Mammoth.

After an earthquake in 1989, high amounts of carbon dioxide gas were released into the air. This toxic gas killed the trees in the surrounding area. What visitors can now see at Horseshoe Lake is an eerie setting with over 100 acres of fallen or cut-down dead trees.

Because of these toxic gases, it’s not recommended to spend a lot of time by Horseshoe Lake and avoid sitting down in depression areas where the gas might collect. However, this is still a popular lake to visit as long as you take caution, don’t camp here overnight, and stay out of any danger zones.

After parking, you can walk down to the lakefront where the Horseshoe Lake Trail starts. You will see a wide trail entrance and a trail marker. The Horseshoe Lake Trail travels in a counter-clockwise direction around the entire lake.

The hike starts in an area that has the biggest concentration of fallen trees from high levels of CO2 gasses in the soil. The scenery here looks pretty surreal and a reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature.

As you go further into the trail, the path travels through a lush pine forest again. The trail loops around the lake offering different perspectives of Horseshoe Lake and the Eastern Sierra mountains.  

Read More: Horseshoe Lake Trail In Mammoth Lakes

7. Heart Lake Trail

Trail Summary:

• Length: 2.4 miles out and back
• Elevation: 561 feet
• Time Needed: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Dogs Allowed? Yes
• Starting Point: Duck Lake Pass Parking Lot

Heart Lake Trail is a serene wilderness trail in Mammoth that is short in distance and rarely crowded. This hike leads to an alpine lake that’s shaped like a heart. You can also go on a quick detour to a historic mining settlement in the forest.

The Heart Lake Trail starts at the end of the Coldwater Campground in Mammoth. There is a paved road that leads to the trailhead which can be easily accessed from Mammoth Lakes Town within a 15-minute drive.

At the beginning of the trail, you can head left into a 0.5-mile-long loop and explore the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine. Here you can see historic artifacts, wooden buildings, and other remnants of a gold mining community that was built during the Gold Rush time.

Here you can see buildings where miners used to live, cook, and sleep. Keep going along the loop and you’ll come across old gold mining equipment and engines from an ore processing mill along with some office buildings. Eventually, the mines closed due to The Great Depression, and the Mammoth economy switched from mining to tourism.

Once you’re done exploring these historic buildings and artifacts, you can connect back with the Heart Lake Trail and continue your trek to the lake.

The trail continues to travel partially in open space and partially in an enclosed, shaded forest giving you plenty of places for resting breaks. Along the hike, you might see some beautiful wildflowers and possibly wildlife like deer.

The trail ends at Heart Lake which has a beautiful blue color to its water. I tried walking around the lake to get different perspectives of it but much of the trail was overgrown.

Read More: How To Hike Heart Lake Trail In Mammoth Lakes

Where To Stay In Mammoth Lakes

If you plan to camp in Mammoth Lakes overnight, there are many great campgrounds to choose from. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Coldwater Campground
• Lake Mary Campground
• Twin Lakes Campground

If you’re looking to stay at a hotel instead of camping, check out this list that covers the 10 Best Hotels In Mammoth Lakes, California!

Other Visitor Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for visiting and hiking in Mammoth:

• It’s free to visit and day hike in Mammoth Lakes. If you plan to backpack or camp overnight, you will need to book wilderness permits and campsites ahead of time.
• Most trailheads have designated parking lots with bear-locked trash cans and restrooms.
• Carry plenty of water. I always carry several bottles of water, even on short day hikes. Our California summers are just getting hotter and hotter so it’s important to bring plenty of water. If you don’t want to carry heavy water bottles, you can also bring a Sawyer water filter and get freshly filtered water from the alpine lakes and rivers along the trails.
• Bring bug repellant. The lakes in Mammoth attract tons of mosquitos and they are very persistent. I even saw people turn around and exit trails because the bugs were too much to deal with.
• I always bring a medical kit, headlamp, and a portable phone charger, even on quick day hikes. It’s always best to go prepared!
• It’s easy to get sunburned on elevation hikes, even on trails that pass through a forest. Pack mineral sunscreen, lip balm, polarized sunglasses, and a hiking hat to help with the harsh sun.
• Use trekking poles. Overall, these are not technical day hikes but trekking poles can always help when you start getting tired.

I hope this post has inspired you to add a few new trails to your Mammoth bucket list! Have you done any of these hikes? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for more things to do in the area? Here are a few other popular posts that you may like:

• 15 Best Hikes In Inyo National Forest, California
• 15 Incredible Things To Do In Mammoth Lakes In Fall
• Review Of Outbound Mammoth Hotel In Mammoth Lakes
• Driving Rock Creek Road Near Mammoth Lakes
• 15 Best Things To Do In Mammoth Lakes In Winter

This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

Some of the links used in this blog may be affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission when you book through these links which helps me run this blog. Thank you!