Mammoth Crest Trail

Overview

This trail leads you to the Mammoth Crest mountain ridge offering you stunning views in all directions. You can see Yosemite in the west and Mammoth Lakes in the east. And, you'll encounter a number of lakes along the way.<br><br>The trail starts at the Crystal Lake Trailhead, north of the parking area and steadily ascends through fir and pine forest. Once you get past the summer cabins on the left, the trail will zigzag up the northwest hillside of Lake George to offer occasional views of Crystal Crag and Lake George. After a mile, you'll reach the junction with Crystal Lake Trail. Make a sharp right turn to stay on this trail. The further up you go, the better the views will be. At a sandy switchback towards the south, you have a stunning view of the entire Mammoth Lakes basin, including Mammoth Mountain, Horseshoe Lake, Lake Mamie, and Twin Lakes. Trees are sparser beyond this point. <br><br>At two miles, you finally reach Mammoth Crest. The trail turns left, but continuing straight onto Mammoth Crest Alternate Spur is highly recommended to get spectacular views of Mount Ritter, Banner Peak, and the Minarets. Continue south over what looks like volcanic slag until the trail becomes sandy. Pass the sign for John Muir Wilderness and cross the desolate plateau while soaking in the views to the west and south.<br><br>You'll reach the highest point of the crest at roughly 4.5 miles. The trail will very steeply descend to Deer Lakes - three lakes surrounded by high mountain walls. This is a good place for a longer break. Continue along the middle lake and steadily ascend again. At this point, the trail becomes less defined, but is still recognizable most of the time. Once you reach the southeastern lake, do not continue further south, but stay on an easterly direction up a fairly rocky slope. Several maps show Mammoth Crest Trail heading further south and then up an extremely steep slope. That is not the trail. <br><br>At the top of the slope is another plateau covered in snow until late in the summer. Once you hav

Trail Stats

Photos

Open views.

Open views.

Near the Mammoth Crest Alternate Spur.

Near the Mammoth Crest Alternate Spur.

Mammoth Mountain and Horseshoe Lake

Mammoth Mountain and Horseshoe Lake

Above Lake George.

Above Lake George.

Deer Lakes with its surrounding mountain walls

Deer Lakes with its surrounding mountain walls

Deer Lakes and a fire burning in Yosemite in the background

Deer Lakes and a fire burning in Yosemite in the background

View northwest across Mammoth Lakes

View northwest across Mammoth Lakes

Lake Mary (right), Lake Mamie (middle), and Twin Lakes (left)

Lake Mary (right), Lake Mamie (middle), and Twin Lakes (left)

Crystal Crag from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Crystal Crag from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Patches of snow above Deer Lakes

Patches of snow above Deer Lakes

Green meadows and patches of snow surrounding Deer Lakes

Green meadows and patches of snow surrounding Deer Lakes

Mammoth Mountain, Barney Lake, and Skelton Lake from Duck Pass Trail

Mammoth Mountain, Barney Lake, and Skelton Lake from Duck Pass Trail

Lake Mary and Lake George viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Lake Mary and Lake George viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

View across the desolate plateau of Mammoth Crest

View across the desolate plateau of Mammoth Crest

Western view from the Mammoth Crest

Western view from the Mammoth Crest

Duck Lake

Duck Lake

Crystal Crag viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Crystal Crag viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Crystal Crag viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Crystal Crag viewed from the Mammoth Crest Trail.

Lake George through the trees on Mammoth Crest Trail.

Lake George through the trees on Mammoth Crest Trail.

Deer Lakes from the eastern ridge of the surrounding mountains

Deer Lakes from the eastern ridge of the surrounding mountains

Duck Lake and Pika Lake viewed from the top of Duck Pass.

Duck Lake and Pika Lake viewed from the top of Duck Pass.

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