Mammoth Lakes Area Trails Report
June 9, 2013
The road to Minaret Vista is open. The trail from the vista north along San Joaquin Ridge to Deadman Pass has two areas of heavy snow along the road. Until this snow melts out this road is not advisable for vehicles. The trail is open for bicycles up to the Wilderness boundary. In Bloom: Alpine Buttercup, Davidson’s Fritillary, and California Valerian.
The Mountain View Bike Trail is open with several patches of snow up high and one tree across the trail.
The Downtown & Uptown Mountain Bike Trails are open and clear of snow and trees.
The Horseshoe Lake Mountain Bike Trail is open, although with a few patches of snow along the trail.
Friends of the Inyo Stewards removed many trees on the way to Mammoth Pass from Horseshoe Lake, but some trees still remain across the trail. The trail leading to Red Cones and Upper Crater Meadow is obscured by many large trees, making this trail difficult to traverse. If attempting the trails from Horseshoe Lake over Mammoth Pass toward Reds Meadow, Upper Crater Meadow, and the PCT, it is helpful to have a map and compass/GPS.
The Duck Pass trail still has snow after Skelton Lake. Most of the snow patches are well traveled and therefore easily traversed. But, the last mile of switchbacks leading to Duck Pass is heavily covered in snow. Due to recent warm weather this snow is melting and is very unstable. Many hikers are finding this final section very difficult and dangerous. The trail to Pika Lake is mostly clear of snow, but is very wet and muddy in sections. In bloom: Shooting Star, Alpine Bog Laurel, Wallflower.
The trail to Bottomless Pit from the Twin Lakes Campground is open. There is no sign at the Bottomless Pit, but it is less than a mile from the trailhead. The trail continuing towards Mammoth Mountain is not in very good shape. A few trees are on the trail or are precariously hanging over it. Sections of the trail are narrow due to erosion or being overgrown. Two miles from the trailhead heavy patches of snow cover the switchbacks making it difficult to reach the summit at this time.
The 1.5 mile connector path between the Emerald Lakes trail and Lake Barrett has a few trees across it, but is easily navigable.
Just a bit to the north of Mammoth Lakes, the Gibbs Lake and Lundy Canyon trails are both reported to be open and clear with Mule’s Ears, Paintbrush and butterflies galore.
This trail report is provided by Friends of the Inyo with support from the Town of Mammoth Lakes – Mammoth Lakes Trails System funding. The next opportunity to get out and give back to your public lands is Saturday, June 22nd for the fourth annual June Lake Trails Day at Gull Lake Park. For more info contact Drew Foster at drew@friendsoftheinyo.org or check us out on Facebook and friendsoftheiyo.org. Respect, protect and enjoy your public lands in the Eastern Sierra!