Horseshoe Lake Trail is a beautiful alpine hike in Mammoth Lakes, California. This lake is located within 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. The one factor that sets Horseshoe Lake apart from other Mammoth Lakes is the strange landscape that consists of many fallen, dead trees as the result of earthquakes and high amounts of carbon dioxide gases that can be found in the ground. In this post, we cover details for where to park, trail difficulty, and what you should know before you head out to Horseshoe Lake! Horseshoe…

McLeod Lake Trail is a short wilderness hike in Mammoth Lakes that leads to a stunning alpine lake. If you’re looking for a relatively easy and quick trail – put McLeod Lake on top of your list! The Mcleod Lake Trail is less than 2 miles long so it’s perfect for families and dogs. This lake also offers great swimming and fishing opportunities (catch & release only). In this post, we cover where the McLeod Lake Trail is located, what you can expect if you plan to hike it, and other visitor tips. Quick Trail Highlights Here are a few quick trail highlights before we go into more details: Length: 1.8…

If you’re looking for an excellent day hike in Mammoth, The Skelton Lake Trail is an easy 3-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 along it (which I highly recommend doing!) This is a trail that I’ve hiked several times including an overnight camping trip on Skelton Lake itself. It’s an incredibly rewarding hike that is great for beginner hikers, families, and dogs. In this post, we share what you can expect if you plan to hike the Skelton Lake Trail including where to park, trail difficulty, what route to…

Crystal Lake Trail is one of the best wilderness day hikes within Inyo National Forest that offers incredible views for somewhat little work. Crystal Lake Trail is 3 miles long round trip and overlooks Lake George and Lake Mary along the way. This hike ends at Crystal Lake, an alpine lake in Mammoth that’s known for its pristine water and clear reflections. In this post, we cover tips for hiking Crystal Lake Trail in Mammoth including trail location, difficulty, the time needed, and what to expect. Crystal Lake Trailhead Location Crystal Lake Trailhead starts by Lake George in Inyo National Forest. There is parking near the Crystal Lake Trailhead but…

Convict Lake is a picturesque lake in Inyo National Forest that features turquoise water, mountains, hiking trails, and secluded beaches. This area is also popular for fishing, swimming, boating, and backpacking. Despite a strange name, Convict Lake is one of the most scenic lakes near Mammoth and a must visit for anyone traveling in the Central California region. The most popular day hike at Convict Lake is a 3-mile loop that goes around the entire lake. Location & Parking Convict Lake is a drive-up lake and can be easily accessible from Highway 395. We usually take Highway 395 when driving up to Mammoth and we’ve passed this area numerous times…