How To Hike Horseshoe Lake Trail In Mammoth Lakes

Horseshoe Lake Trail is a beautiful day hike in Mammoth Lakes, California. This lake is located within the Inyo National Forest and is part of the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

Horseshoe Lake Trail is an easy loop that is popular for hiking and mountain biking. Here you can explore Mars-like landscapes with many fallen, dead trees from past earthquakes and high amounts of carbon dioxide gases that were released from the ground.

In this post, I cover details for where to park, trail difficulty, and what you should know before you head out to visit Horseshoe Lake!

Beautiful scenery at Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth.

Horseshoe Lake Trail Highlights

Here are a few quick trail highlights before I dive into more details:

Length: 1.8-mile-long loop
Elevation Gain: 114 feet (it’s fairly flat)
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed?: Yes, this trail is dog-friendly

Trail Location & Parking

Horseshoe Lake Trail starts at the Lakes Basin Path/Horseshoe Lake Trailhead. There is a large free parking lot right next to the lake where visitors can leave their cars while hiking or mountain biking.

This parking lot can accommodate many visitors, so usually parking is not an issue.

Horseshoe Lake parking lot in Mammoth Lakes.

After parking, you can walk down to the lakefront where the Horseshoe Lake Loop starts. You will see a wide trail entrance and a trail marker.

Multiple hiking and backpacking trails start near Horseshoe Lake. If you have extra time after your hike, I recommend checking out the nearby McLeod Lake Trail as well.

This is another short day hike that begins at Horseshoe Lake and leads to a secluded alpine lake.

About Horseshoe Lake Trail

Horseshoe Lake Trail is a 1.8-mile-long loop that goes around the entire lake. This trail is fairly flat and can be rated as easy, making it a great hike for families and kids.

Horseshoe Lake has interesting geological features that are different from other lakes in Mammoth. After a recent earthquake in 1989, high amounts of carbon dioxide gas were released, killing the trees in the surrounding area. What visitors can now see is an eerie setting with over 100 acres of fallen, dead trees.

Dead, cut down trees around Horseshoe Lake.

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.

Keep in mind that kids and dogs are more at risk because they are closer to the ground. 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.

CO2 emission warning sign next to Horseshoe Lake.

Horseshoe Lake Loop itself is a straightforward hike. However, there is no reception in the Mammoth wilderness, so I always download a trail map from the AllTrails hiking app before I head out into the mountains and lose reception.

I also like to check out the AllTrails hiking app for any recent comments or closures.

Map Of Horseshoe Lake Trail From AllTrails:

Dogs are also welcome to use the Horseshoe Lake Trail. Overall, Mammoth is a very dog-friendly place, and most people bring their four-legged friends on trails with them.

Here’s a couple of things that I pack for hiking trips with my dog:

Collapsible dog bowl. A collapsible dog bowl is essential for hiking, camping, and road-tripping with a dog. Collapsible bowls are lightweight, so you can throw one in a backpack and easily carry it everywhere.
RUFFWEAR dog boots. I always keep these in my backpack when hiking with my dog in case the sand gets too hot during the day or the trail has very sharp rocks that can cut his paws. It can take a few days for your dog to get used to hiking boots, so it’s best to practice walking at home or in your neighborhood before heading out into the mountains.
2 Hounds No Pull Harness. I love this harness because it comes with multiple clip-on points, providing more comfort for my dog and extra control for me when hiking.
Biodegradable poop bags. Dog waste can be harmful to wild animals and nature. It’s always good practice to bring extra poop bags and carry dog waste out on day hikes. These waste bags are also biodegradable – even better for Earth!

Hiking with my dog Quito at Horseshoe Lake.

For those who are interested in fishing at Mammoth Lakes, do note that Horseshoe Lake is not the best spot for fishing. Unlike other lakes in Mammoth, Horseshoe Lake does not get stocked with fish regularly. Because of gas emissions, it is not the safest place to fish in the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

While you can still catch wild fish at Horseshoe Lake, other lakes such as Lake George, McLeod Lake, and Skelton Lake are more popular for fishing in Mammoth.

My Experience Hiking Horseshoe Lake Trail

The trailhead for the Horseshoe Lake Loop starts just a short walk from the parking lot.

After parking, head down to the lake and walk to the right until you see the trailhead marker. The Horseshoe Lake Trail travels in a counter-clockwise direction around the entire lake.

You will see several large signs covering more about this area, the dangers of Carbon Dioxide gas, and trail etiquette.

There are also restrooms near the trailhead, trash cans, and dog waste bags if you need to grab a few for the hike.

Restrooms at the beginning of the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead.

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

Once you head into the trail, the surroundings turn to a healthy alpine forest again and stay like that for most of the hike.

Beautiful scenery overlooking Horseshoe Lake.

The Horseshoe Lake Trail follows a shaded path in the forest along a cliffside. A tree line separates the lake from the trail, but you still get to enjoy views of the lake during the hike. You can go down to the lakefront at any moment you wish, but the trail down is sandy and a bit steep.

Most of the trail is fairly flat with a mix of dirt and some paved sections. During this hike, you will cross a few wooden bridges and streams.

By taking the loop around the lake, you can enjoy different views and perspectives of the jagged Eastern Sierra mountains that have been in the making for four million years. The mountains in Mammoth have been shaped by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and glaciers.

Some of the mountains that you can see in Mammoth look red, especially around Lake Mary. This is due to iron dioxide minerals, which make the mountains look rusty.

One of the prettiest views of the lake can be found on the opposite end, which consists of sandy beaches.

Once you continue, the scenery stays very similar throughout the hike. Overall, the trail felt very serene and peaceful, with almost nobody else around at sunset.

Other Visitor Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your visit:

Bring bug repellent. The lakes in Mammoth attract tons of mosquitoes, and they are very persistent. I even saw people turn around and exit some trails because the bugs were too much to handle.
Use trekking poles. Overall, this is not a technical trail, but trekking poles can always help when you start getting tired.
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.
It’s easy to get sunburned on elevation hikes, even on trails that pass through a forest like this one. Nothing ruins a trip more than a bad sunburn. Pack mineral sunscreen, lip balm, polarized sunglasses, and a hiking hat to help with the sun.
I always bring a first aid kit, headlamp, and a portable phone charger, even on quick day hikes. It’s always best to go prepared!

Camping In Mammoth Lakes

Due to the toxic gases that can be found in this region, it’s not recommended to camp at Horseshoe Lake overnight. CO2 collects in low-level shelters such as tents and can cause flu-like symptoms if you’re exposed to it for longer periods.

Thankfully, there are many other great campgrounds to choose from in Mammoth Lakes. Some of the most popular ones are:

During my trip, I stayed in my Promaster Campervan by the Duck Lake Pass Trailhead, which is next to the Coldwater Campground.

The Duck Lake Pass Trailhead parking lot is flat, decent in size, and has a restroom with running water.

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!

Have you visited Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth? Let us know your hiking experience in the comments below!

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

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.

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