87 m away
Duck Pass and Duck Lake
A popular out-and-back with incredible alpine views.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 671 m
- Descent
- 671 m
A superb bang-for-your-buck lake hike.
Hiking Moderate
The short climb to Heart Lake is a superb bang-for-your-buck hike. A quick 1-mile ascent climbing less than 500 vertical feet brings you to a stunning alpine lake ringed by the iconic jagged, rocky peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the perfect spot for a picnic or an afternoon spent basking in the alpine sun!
The trail is well-used and relatively non-technical, both of which create an easy route to follow to the lake. Along the way, a few trails do branch off of the main route. These lead to "ruins and the original mineshaft of the Depression-era Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine (both worthwhile side trips),” according to MammothTrails.org.
While the route to Heart Lake is short and quite popular, it does enter the John Muir Wilderness, with the lake itself located in the Wilderness. Despite the press of tourists that you encounter, it’s of paramount importance to practice Leave No Trace wilderness practices. "Many archaeological and historic sites exist throughout the Inyo National Forest and on adjacent federal and state lands,” writes MammothTrails.org. "These sites are special places that contain irreplaceable information of our past and are protected by law. Please take only photographs, leave only footprints, and report vandalism."
Sources: https://www.mammothtrails.org/trail/64/heart-lake-trail/
Moderate
Hiking along trails with some uneven terrain and small hills. Small rocks and roots may be present.
87 m away
A popular out-and-back with incredible alpine views.
Difficult Hiking
106 m away
A quick hike to Emerald Lake with the option to continue on to Skelton Lake
Easy Hiking
2.3 km away
Traverse the top of a stunning mountain ridge.
Difficult Hiking
2.3 km away
A truly stunning alpine lake vista!
Difficult Hiking
2.8 km away
A very easy hike with gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Easy Hiking
3 km away
The more difficult ascent up Mammoth Mountain.
Severe Hiking
7.8 km away
Classic hiking trail to the summit of Mammoth Mountain, with the option to shorten the hike with the gondola.
Difficult Hiking
8 km away
Miles 906.7-942.5 of the northbound PCT: From Devils Postpile National Monument to Yosemite National Park, through the photo-famous landscape of Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Moderate Hiking
8.1 km away
An ultra-popular hike to a stunning waterfall.
Easy Hiking
8.1 km away
Visit both the upper and lower falls on this hike.
Moderate Hiking
9 routes · Hiking
4 routes · Hiking
5 routes · Hiking
72 routes · Hiking