Hike Type: Overnight Difficulty Level: Difficult Food Storage: There are two bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Backpacking Isle Royale is an incredible experience, but it is logistically tricky to get to Isle Royale This trail guides breaks down all the details to make it easy to plan your own Isle Royale adventure. Manage Settings Water must be treated before consumption and can be collected from various streams and lakes. Beginning on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the loop follows the Middle Fork San Joaquin River for approximately 5.7 miles. Download maps, and emergency information before starting on the trail., Plan to be self-sufficient, bring adequate supplies of food, water and clothing., Do not leave food or refuse in your car or tent. Directions: Leave Hwy 395 at Hwy 203 to the town of Mammoth Lakes. But to camp overnight, you'll need to obtain a permit like most spots in the Eastern Sierra. Then onto the destination of today - Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. Minaret Lake Hike | Words By Julie Boyd |Photos by Julie Boyd and Brian Callender. Less than 10 miles roundtrip, the Duck Lake is the perfect overnight backpacking trip to experience classic Sierra lakes and mountains. It was right in the middle of a meadow, close to the banks of the lake. The view of the lake from above is specially stunning, i didnt have the energy or the time (to make the last shuttle) to explore towards lake Cecile, which is the base of the climb up clyde minaret next time! If youre backpacking or starting later in the day, you must use the shuttle service instead. I have done other rougher routes and wonder if any of the 3 passes are anything like MR, Whitney-Russell pass, Shadow of Minarets: Minaret-Cecile-Iceberg-Whitebark Pass-Garnet Pass to Thousand Is, Banner Peak itself (west glacier), Lamarck col . I would imagine in summer it might be a bit more of an ordeal, especially in the early months, or after a season of heavy snowfall. Traditional check in includes the chance to ask questions in person, rent a bear can, or purchase maps along with printing the permit. There are no discounts for annual passes, military, seniors, or children. What to Bring on Your Minaret Lake Backpacking Trip The essential packing list for your Minaret Lakes hike dont hit the trail without these things! This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. that youre fully prepared. 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. So worth the early wake-up call though. I'd love to come back for some more technical routes up some of the nearby peaks - the view must be incredible from up there. 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. Trips beginning on Inyo National Forest may continue into the wilderness areas of Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks., As you plan your trip, remember that we must take care of this amazing place. 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. Do not rely on cell phone for communication or navigation, most of the forest has no cell service. Youll find plenty of places to stake your tent, but be aware of Leave No Trace rules, and camp at least 200 feet from the water. A $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit reservation. Each hiker will need to buy a $8 roundtrip shuttle ticket from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, and you can find parking down the hill. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Additional "walk up" quota will open for web reservations 2 weeks before the trip at 7am Pacific Time., No Show Deadline: Permit will be canceled as a no show unless issued or printed before the deadline, 10:30 am on the entry date.. 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. Also, you dont have to worry about getting a wilderness permit if you day hike. for the process. Permits are required for overnight camping and backpacking trips and can be obtained at www.recreation.gov. Whitney Permit: Understanding the Permit & Lottery Process for Day Hiking and Backpacking the Whitney Area | Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, which makes it a very popular peak to hike and climb. Here are some of my favorite day hikes among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona that are short enough to squeeze in on any trip to the area! website belongs to an official government organization in the Your furry friend can join you on this trail (just be prepared to navigate a possible stream crossing). Be prepared before you go. Its important that you research your weather conditions before you go, weeks and days before your trip. Day Four. Contact me here and say hi :). Everything you need to know about permits and regulations can be found on the Eastern Sierra - Logisitcal Center page. This itinerary is packed with incredible hikes, waterfalls, rugged coastline, redwoods, caves, and lakes you wont want to miss. To purchase more detailed maps or guidebooks of the area, visit sierraforever.org. Sunset . Mount Whitney Summit from Trail Camp. Get a permit to backpack Minaret Lake in Inyo National Forest. Its not hard to do, but it does require a little planning ahead. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? It is a very fine peak made from, not granite, but a more ancient metamorphic rock, which gives it its characteristic, almost non-Sierra-like shape of a sharp needle (as seen from the ski slopes of Mammoth). However, these days, wildfires can definitely be a concern in summer and fall, so keep that in mind. If you're hiking outside of when the shuttle runs, you can drive to the trailhead yourself. Thanks for the feedback, Ranjeet. The cover photo for this post is from me waking up around 5 AM on my trip with my best friend to this area. Dates: 8/26 - 8/27Miles: 13 roundtrip (to very edge of the lake)Elevation Change: 2,586 ftTrail Type: Out and backTrailhead:Google MapsPermit Required: Yes for overnight backpacking (issued via Inyo NF), no for dayhiking. Important Minaret Lake Safety Tips Tips about the top hazards to expect along the Minaret Lake trail. After waking up early to catch the sunrise over the lake the next morning, head back down the trail and hike out. The trail eventually leads to Minaret Lake, situated at the base of the Minarets, a group of jagged peaks within the Ritter Mountain Range (a subrange of the Sierra Nevada). While the summer months of July and August make for great trail conditions, they also are the months when you will find the most mosquitoes. Bear resistant food storage containers are recommended for all wilderness travelers., There are no restrooms in the wilderness., Respect other visitors desire for quiet and solitude. How difficult is hiking Minaret Lake? Check for open hours before you go to the visitor center for in person service. Its a good idea to take a GPS map to navigate so you dont get off course. Thank you for supporting the work I do to keep creating meaningful content like this for you! 2h 40m Easy 4.6 (412) Above Minaret Falls near Johnston Meadow the Minaret Lake trail seperates from the John Muir trail to followMinaret Creek. Click here for all important dates for booking CA backpacking permits. Nydiver lakes over Whitebark Pass to Garnet then cross country to Thousand Island Lake. Let us know in the comments! This ended up being a good decision because we saw what was a much more impressive falls further up the trail. Minaret Lake. Phone: 760-873-2483Email: SM.FS.WildPmt_Inyo@usda.gov. Park here, use the restroom one last time, and be sure to lock away all scented items in the nearby bear lockers. The 7-mile hike to base camp is mostly uphill and follows Minaret Creek. 1-Day Tours; 2-Day Tours; 3-4 Days Tours; Marathons! 7 mi 0 ft gain. The guide team at East End Lodge use 16-foot Dolphin Super Skiffs with 85HP Yamaha outboard motors. Its about protecting what sustains us. Join the Backpacking Badass Program Waitlist. This means that for reservations in the summer months (July through October), you will be able to make reservations from January to April. 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. and reservations. Shuttle stop #1 is Agnew Meadows. Bundled up in our puffy, down jackets, the two of us headed south on the John Muir Trail (JMT) toward Devils Postpile. After pitching our tent, we headed down to the shore to pump some water and take an afternoon dip. 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. There is a water spigot and bathrooms near the Ranger Station here. The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. Come prepared to find your way. ) or https:// means you've safely Minaret Lake Trail Stats - All the nitty gritty details for the trail in one spot. Although this probably wont cause altitude sickness, it could make the hike much more of a struggle if youre coming from sea level. Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. Whitney area are expected to pack-out their solid human waste., In other areas poop should be buried six to eight inches deep and at least 100 feet or more from water sources, trails, or campsites., Pack out all your trash, help keep our wilderness areas pristine., Protect water quality, dont use soap in natural waterways, even biodegradable soap can damage aquatic life. on official, secure websites. Don't lose your ticket, you'll need it for your return shuttle! Distance: 15.6 miles, roundtrip (where you set up camp will vary your mileage slightly) Elevation Gain: 1,870 ft. If youre looking for specific information, feel free to skip ahead to the section youre looking for! This trail has some elevation gain, but its fairly spread out over the whole hike. "Run the Silk Road" Marathon Tour; Tien Shan Trail Race marathon "Tien Shan Trail Race" marathon-tour; Trekking Heres what you need to know to get your permit: The Inyo Wilderness permits for most trails including Minaret Lake can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Reservation fees are used to finance the on-line reservation system and software for permit data. A bucket list hike for every outdoor lover! There were too many peaks to count, and I can see why this is popular climbing and alpinist spot. This path continues winding through the forest, but some of the scenery gets more interesting as Minaret Creek cascades through a shallow, rocky canyon. Do you need a permit to hike Minaret lake? Recreation.gov! I set an alarm and snuck out of my tent to brave the windy cold morning in order to capture a picture and take in one of the most beautiful things Ive ever seen. You'll hike along the Minaret Creek past meadows, an enormous waterfall, and eventually you'll see the entire range of the Minarets above you. If youre looking for a great intro backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada, the Minaret Lake trail is it! I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete 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. Minaret Lake should be on every backpacker's list. All people count for wilderness quotas and fees. At 1.6 miles veer right toward Johnston Lake. 1 / 6. The National Park Service website has tons of information about parking restrictions, shuttle times, and entry fees. Minaret Lakes via PCT, Minaret Creek, and John Muir Trail Loop Ansel Adams Wilderness Length: 23.5 mi Est. 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