3.8 hr
Overview
Laurel Lakes Road is only navigable in a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle\u2014or on two feet. In fact, it may be faster to hike the road than to drive it. <br><br>To get there, take Highway 395 south from Mammoth and turn right on Sherwin Creek Road. Drive along this dirt road for a few miles until you reach Laurel Lakes Road. Park here and get ready to hike.<br><br>Follow Laurel Lakes Road as it switchbacks up the hillside and disappears into the valley. After climbing about a mile and a half, the trail flattens out a bit and takes you through a grove of aspen trees. After about three miles from the start, the grade steepens again with another set of switchbacks. At about 4.5 miles, you reach the high point with a view of the two Laurel Lakes down below. Descend a short section to the lakes to complete the 5.1-mile trail. <br><br>Take a dip in the lake to cool off or fill up your water bottle if you brought a filter. Then turn around and run back down to the starting point for a 10.2-mile out-and-back (up-and-down) hike with about 3,000 vertical feet gained and lost.
Trail Stats
8.2 km
835 m
3059 m
2227 m
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Photos
The bigger of the two Laurel Lakes as viewed from the high point of Laurel Lakes Road.
The bigger of the two Laurel Lakes as viewed from the high point of Laurel Lakes Road.
The start of Laurel Lakes Road.
The start of Laurel Lakes Road.
Laurel Lakes Road can be seen winding up the hillside as viewed from Sherwin Creek Road.
Laurel Lakes Road can be seen winding up the hillside as viewed from Sherwin Creek Road.
A section of Laurel Lakes Road.
A section of Laurel Lakes Road.
A flatter section of Laurel Lakes Road as it passes by an aspen grove with Bloody Mountain up ahead.
A flatter section of Laurel Lakes Road as it passes by an aspen grove with Bloody Mountain up ahead.