4 min
Overview
The Eastern Sierra is a supremely photogenic region of California no matter what time of year, but in early fall when the aspen change color it can be especially tough to beat. McGee Creek – between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop just to the southwest of Lake Crowley – is an absolute must-hike at peak color. It’s difficulty is very manageable for most, it’s near a great Forest Service camp site at McGee Creek, and the usually spectacular Sierra terrain is made even more outstanding by the unusual rock formations and mineral content of the towering mountains that flank both sides of the creek canyon. The hike begins just past the McGee Creek Pack Station at a small parking area that can get a little crowded in the late morning and early afternoon – especially during foliage season. You’ll start hiking on a slow but steady incline through high elevation sagebrush chaparral. To your right you’ll be able to see scattered, solitary juniper trees clinging to the steep slopes of McGee Mountain; straight ahead are the jagged, multicolored faces of Mounts Aggie and Baldwin; and to your left is a thick strand of aspen hugging the creekbed at the base of Mount Morgan. There are several indistinct trails from the parking area – they all end up in the same place, but to get close to those creekside aspen, veer as far to the left as you can. You’ll be able to get much closer to the trees – and the trail itself is more interesting to hike. By the 0.9 mile mark, all the different trails meet back up and continue heading into the canyon well above the creekbed. You’re not out of the water, though. Buzztail Spring, just to the north of the trail on the south slope of McGee Mountain, provides a few small trickles that even in a record-breaking drought year turned a short section of the trail into a miniature stream. You’ll cross into the John Muir Wilderness at just past 1 mile, and the trail parallels McGee Creek as it turns to the south. The scenery here is truly stunning – aspen groves continue to hug McGee Creek to the south, but t
Trail Stats
10.5 km
368 m
2753 m
2395 m
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