Heart Lake Trail

Overview

From the parking area, the trail climbs up a gradual grade to reach Heart Lake in about a mile. <br><br>If you are determined, you can make your way around the lake by following an on-again-off-again trail that somewhat follows the shoreline. The trail is eroding into the lake on the east side, it can be hard to follow around the south side, and there are a few braids to choose from along the west side. <br><br>Runners are probably best served by treating this as a simple 2-mile out-and-back (or up-and-down) run to the lake and back, skipping the circumnavigation of the lake. Ultimately, you don\u2019t need to go around the lake to take in its beauty. <br><br>When you finish, take a small detour to walk through the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine interpretive site near the parking area. The partially restored site contains the original mining offices, assay office, mill, bunkhouses, schoolhouse, mining equipment and mine shafts that were in operation from 1927 to 1933.

Trail Stats

Photos

An old mining building along the Heart Lake Trail with aspen tree grove.

An old mining building along the Heart Lake Trail with aspen tree grove.

The trail to a canopy of pine and aspen trees.

The trail to a canopy of pine and aspen trees.

Panorama of Heart Lake, Red Mountain in the background.

Panorama of Heart Lake, Red Mountain in the background.

The backside of Heart Lake

The backside of Heart Lake

Remnants of the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine found near the start of the Heart Lake Trail.

Remnants of the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine found near the start of the Heart Lake Trail.

Mammoth Mountain viewed from the Heart Lake Trail.

Mammoth Mountain viewed from the Heart Lake Trail.

Mammoth Mountain and the Minarets viewed from the Heart Lake Trail.

Mammoth Mountain and the Minarets viewed from the Heart Lake Trail.

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