First established in 1964 as the Minarets Wilderness, the Ansel Adams Wilderness lies immediately southeast of--and contiguous to--Yosemite National Park. We headed to bed early in normal backcountry fashion, and woke at dawn to catch the sunrise. Mount Whitney Summit from Trail Camp. This loop is suitable for trail runners, hikers, and backpackers. Reservations cannot be sold or transferred. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Education Get all the details on our educational programs, including our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and much more. Traditional check in includes the chance to ask questions in person, rent a bear can, or purchase maps along with printing the permit. Collectively, they form an arte and are a prominent feature in the Ansel Adams . 3) You will then be taken to a long list of trailheads showing their availability and quotas. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) John Muir Trail Shadow Creek Trail Minaret Creek Trail PCT/JMT. Deep blue waters, nestled in an alpine basin, below craggy spires that seem too jagged to hold themselves up is the reward for the long trek up to Minaret Lake in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains. Knowledge is power my friend, and I'm a girl who loves data. Fishing in Minaret and Deadhorse Lakesis for Brook Trout. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. The primary bedroom has a TV, an en suite bathroom, and slider and windows that look out onto a lush . LockA locked padlock >> JUMP TO SECTION 8 FOR A SUGGESTED MINARET LAKE TRAIL ITINERARY. A $5.00 per person recreation fee is charged for all other areas. To finalize your permit reservations, youll need to pay a $6 permit fee plus an additional $5 non-refundable per person transaction fee. Your email address will not be published. Permit, GTs and sharks leave until the next cycle of springs fills the lagoon once again, enjoying a rare moment of peace the bonefish stay. Difficulty Level: Strenuous. | shedreamsofalpine.com. The recreation fees are used to finance the on-the-ground wilderness programs in Inyo National Forest. I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! Our trails offer possibilities for hiking, photography, peak bagging, fishing, or simply enjoying the pristine beauty of the High Sierra. Bishop, CA 93514, 7,543 ft. at Devils Postpile Visitor Center, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=20540&actid=51, Reds Meadow Pack Train is located near Reds Meadow Resort offering day rides and mule pack trips(800) 292-7758, Road closed in winter (mid-October through late June). 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. 48.3k members in the socalhiking community. Search & Rescue Mountain Safety Message., Be alert when arriving at night in areas with bear activity. A per person recreation fee is charged for your group when reserving a wilderness permit for entry on Inyo National Forest trails. Try this 14.9-mile out-and-back trail near June Lake, California. Visitorsto the Reds Meadow Valley pay a per-person transportation fee which allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus. Most of it was gorgeous but some of that JMT section honestly sucked, although the Minaret Lake day made up for it! Most people hiking to Minaret Lake will need to take the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttle to access the trailhead. Then youll hit the trail and hike to Minaret Lake, which shouldnt take you more than 4-5 hours, since its a pretty chill gradual incline up to Minaret Lake. 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! Overview. Continuing on the trail looking for a camp site, Backpacking Fontanillis Lake to Dicks Peak Desolation Wilderness, CA, Sea to Summit Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner Review, like we did for our Thousand Island Lake backpacking trip, click here for my tried-and-true backpacking meals, Backpacking Duck Lake Pass Trail Mammoth, CA, Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake, and Iceberg Lake Loop - Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA, Wild Willy's Hot Springs Mammoth Lakes, CA, How I Save Money on Camping and Hiking Gear, The Ultimate One Week Norcal/Oregon Roadtrip for any Outdoor Adventurer, My Absolute Favorite Hikes in Sedona, Arizona, Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days. Is there drinking water available along the Minaret Lake hike? The Minaret Lakes Loop is a 30.4-mile loop trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. After pitching our tent, we headed down to the shore to pump some water and take an afternoon dip. International flights not included. You will find free parking in the lots near the Mammoth Lodge. Thousand Island Lake: Hike Details. Incredible contrasts of Son Kul; Express tours. But specialists are aware that the field is not easy to document, should they wish to go beyond the usual material provided by architectural journals in European languages. In other words, do the 3 passes have sections like that, or are they all trail? After waking up early to catch the sunrise over the lake the next morning, head back down the trail and hike out. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. You can plan this trip as one or two nights, depending on the time you have to spend in this amazing alpine setting. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit. And there are a few absolutely essential items I want to make sure you have ready to go when youre heading out on your Minaret Lake adventure. Twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. Come prepared to find your way. Hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing with confidence and being inspired by the outdoors. Shuttle stop #6 is Devils Postpile Visitor Center. No rain checks or credits. Rangers ask that you dont bring bear spray with you in this area. Journey to the Kel Suu lake; To the blooming valley of Karkara. Check weather and road closures before choosing a trip in winter or spring. Minaret Lake crowds: You probably wont be alone on this trail, but the crowds usually arent too bad overall. Always store your food (and any other scented items) at night in either a bear box or bear canister. This ended up being a good decision because we saw what was a much more impressive falls further up the trail. . Do you need a permit to hike Minaret lake? 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. Also, you will need to mark if this is a guided trip or not. Join me (and your peers) on a transformational adventure, where you will learn how to confidently go on your first ever (or perhaps your first solo) outdoor backpacking trip without the constant fear of getting lost, the crippling worry of being unprepared, and the lurking feeling that you lack the "know-how" and skills required to stay safe on the trails. How to Get a Minaret Lake Permit The step-by-step process to get the required Minaret Lake permit for backpacking. Mistakes are certainly how we learn, and we should never be so afraid of failure and mistakes that it prevents us from taking action toward our backpacking goals, but this list might just help you avoid a few rookie (often too common) mistakes beginner backpackers tend to make their first time backpacking. 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. This section of the John Muir Trail is a non-technical trail on the Native lands of Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, and Eastern Mono/Monache. We recommend frequently checking the website before arrival as operating hours vary due to weather. 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. We are Brian and Julie, a Bay Area couple making travel work with full-time jobs. This trail has some elevation gain, but its fairly spread out over the whole hike. The Minaret Lake trail is fairly easy to follow, but there are a few trail junctions along the way. Travel lightly on the land. 2) Click the Explore Available Permits button. 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. The Ediza Lake - Thousand Island Lake Loop is a top-tier backpacking circuit in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The plan was to head to Thousand Island Lake on the first night, Ediza Lake on the second, and Minaret Lake for the third and final night. You can also download this file as a GPX file to upload into your own personal GPS device. No campfires at Minaret Lakes or Deadhorse Lake; and no campfires at all locations above 10,000 ft. Food, trash and scented items must be stored in. There is an endless supply of loops, out-and-backs, and point-to-point hikes that can be completed in the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Laura snagged us permits for the River Trail entrance. Beginning on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the loop follows the Middle Fork San Joaquin River for approximately 5.7 miles. To narrow your search, use the filters at the top input Overnight, your start date, and group size. ( 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. Day Four. Choose a campsite at least 100 feet away from lakes, streams, or trails.. You should also set up your camp in a spot where people have clearly camped before, in order to minimize environmental impact. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 45 min to complete. Affiliate disclaimer: this article includes some affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. Minaret Vista. Close Thanks After leaving Minaret Lake, follow the Minaret Creek Trail east to the PCT/JMT, where you can retrace your steps to Agnew Meadows. If you choose to backpack to Minaret Lake, you will need to get an Inyo National Forest Wilderness permit in order to camp overnight. Phone: 760-873-2483Email: SM.FS.WildPmt_Inyo@usda.gov. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Highway 203. 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. Makes me want to slide down the entire thing, much faster than hiking back down the switchbacks! These junctions come at 5.95, 6.75, and 7.45 miles from Agnew Meadows. After crossing the river youll take another right on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)/JMT and steadily climb through pine trees along the river. Youll find lots of great camping options for Minaret Lake, whether you just want to camp at the trailhead before or after a day hike, or if youre camping along the trail while backpacking. 6) Finally, youll check out and pay for your Minaret Lake permit. The Trail Code youll be applying for is Minaret Lake - AA11. Please Leave No Trace. Being novice backpackers, we made a poor selection for our campsite. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit.. Nothing about the first six miles of the hike gave any hint of the magical scenery held up in Minaret Basin. And if youve done this hike before, share your experience in the comments!. Its about protecting what sustains us. Mammoth Lakes, CA. When backpacking to Minaret Lake, youll want to camp near the lake itself (especially on the east side) for the most breathtaking views. BearVault BV450 Bear Resistant Food Container. Violators will be booted and charged a service fee. Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center: 1-(760) 924-5500, Mammoth Lakes Trail Systems: https://www.mammothtrails.org/, Inyo National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea?recid=20540, Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Contact the wilderness permit office if you have questions or need to reissue a permit with corrections. that youre fully prepared. Only the group leader or listed alternate can pick up or use the permit. . This is something I teach in my backpacking program, but I want to give you a couple GPS options to get started. Minaret Lake Hike Map & GPX Files - I've created a map detailing the entire trail that you can explore, including a look at the elevation gain/profile of the hike. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'backcountrycow_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',826,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backcountrycow_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');You'll most likely be taking the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile shuttleto get to the trailhead. Depending on the season you choose to hike Minaret Lake, you could encounter snow on the trail, which would make the hike more technical and potentially treacherous. connected to the .gov website. Whether you are seeking solitude, exceptional scenery, or sharing a wilderness adventure, there are many ways to create a memorable experience., Come, take a deep breath of clean mountain air. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 17 h 25 min to complete. Leave trip information with a friend with instructions of when to report you overdue. Turn right on Minaret Road and go to Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center (Main Lodge) for long term parking and to board the mandatory shuttle to the trailhead. 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. In the middle of the summer, the trail should be clear and melted out, but early in the summer or in the fall, you should definitely check the updated trail conditions and snowfall totals for the season before you attempt this hike. Not to mention, you can also look down on Minaret Lake below. Its a good idea to take a GPS map to navigate so you dont get off course. 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. 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. All Locations > California > High Sierra > 04 - Ritter & M > Clyde Minaret. Minaret Lake - Cecile - Iceberg - Ediza - Nydiver - basin with little lake to the west of Garnet Lake - west side of Thousand Island Lake: 10 out of 10. Permits are required if you are backpacking & camping, but not for day hiking this trail. We want to return to the lake as well to explore more of the area! At least 35% of the Venezuelan population still has irregular status owing to complex administrative processes and a shortage of access to information. Although the scenery so far has been pretty typical of a high elevation Sierra forest - dried pine needles and lots of boulders, the portions near the creek were surprisingly lush. ha! It takes approximately 8 hours to do this as a day hike. 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