Mono Creek Trail

Overview

Most hikers will do an out-and back, probably adding a detour up one of the laterals to Laurel Lake, Lake Hopkins, or into the Second Recess. If your destination is the Pioneer Basin, or the Third or Fourth Recesses, they are easier to reach by hiking from Mosquito Flats (Little Lakes Valley) over Mono Pass.<br><br>The Mono Creek Trail starts from the JMT less the 1.5 miles above the trail from the Lake Edison ferry, a little over 3 miles from the ferry. It traverses around a ridge and drops down 300 feet to the creek. This is a beautiful forested canyon with a large creek flowing over the rocks and cliffs on both sides that soar 2-3000 feet. From there, the trail gains only 300 feet in elevation over 3 miles, to the Second Recess. Many love this recess. The lower part is an easy climb with crystal clear creek and pine forests. A use trail leads all the way to Upper Mills Creek Lake, but some parts are very steep. In "Timberline Country, The Sierra High Route", Steve Roper describes Lower Mills Lake as one of the most beautiful in the Sierra and he describes a Class 2 route over Gibbot Pass to Lake Italy. <br><br>The Laurel Lake Trail is about 0.4 miles farther up Mono Creek from the Second Recess Trail. That trail switchbacks steeply up about 900 feet to enter the hanging valley. From there it is only a 600 foot climb above roughly 2 miles to Laurel Lake. Well before Laurel Lake, a use trail follows the the outlet stream from Grinnell Lake, a much larger and very scenic lake.<br><br>The Mono Creek trail continues to climb gradually up the canyon. At 6.7 miles, it passes the junction with the Hopkins Creek Trail. That trail climbs 1,000 feet to Lower Hopkins Lake. Upper Hopkins Lake is over 2.5 miles farther, just below the Class 2 Hopkins Pass, which leads to McGee Creek.<br><br>At 7.5 miles, the Mono Creek Trail passes the trail to the Third Recess. It is a 1,000-foot climb to the not-very-exciting Third Recess Lake.<br><br>The junction to the much more scenic Pioneer Basin is at 8.7 miles, and just beyon

Trail Stats

Photos

Summit Lake. Even in person, the distances are deceiving. The lake is actually 0.25 miles long and it is 0.5 miles to Mono Pass at the top of the snow bank.

Summit Lake. Even in person, the distances are deceiving. The lake is actually 0.25 miles long and it is 0.5 miles to Mono Pass at the top of the snow bank.

Largest of the Trail Lakes. The "Needle" is on the ridge in the center.

Largest of the Trail Lakes. The "Needle" is on the ridge in the center.

Mono Recess viewpoint and easy 1 mile hike from Mono Pass. You can see the 1st, 2nd, and 4th lakes in the Pioneer Basin. Red and White Mt. and Red Slate Mt. are peeking over the basin's western rim.

Mono Recess viewpoint and easy 1 mile hike from Mono Pass. You can see the 1st, 2nd, and 4th lakes in the Pioneer Basin. Red and White Mt. and Red Slate Mt. are peeking over the basin's western rim.

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