577 m away
Mammoth Mountain Via Dragon's Back
The more difficult ascent up Mammoth Mountain.
Severe Hiking
- Distance
- 10 km
- Ascent
- 748 m
- Descent
- 748 m
A very easy hike with gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Hiking Easy
The short loop hike around Horseshoe Lake is one of the easiest and most-accessible hikes in the Mammoth Lakes area. The Lakes Basin area, anchored by Lake Mary, is extremely popular with tourists, meaning that this easy hike is likely to be crowded. But the area is popular for a good reason: the views of the lakes and the surrounding mountains are simply superb!
“The Mammoth Crest escarpment and the southern flank of Mammoth Mountain serve as a backdrop” for this hike, according to Mammoth Trails.org. “The area is further distinguished by more than 100 acres of tree kill,” they continue. “Carbon dioxide from cooling magma seeped through the surface after a swarm of small earthquakes hit in 1989-1990.”
The level of the lake fluctuates from year to year depending on the amount of snow that fell the previous winter. In dry years, the water level in the lake very low, which leaves broad expanses of dry sand beaches that families play on.
The trail itself is about as flat and mellow as you’ll find anywhere! Enjoy a leisurely ramble through a forest of incredibly tall pine trees, with views of the mountains and the lake peeking through.
If you finish this hike and haven’t had enough, the Lake Mary area serves as a popular trailhead for more ambitious hikes, such as Duck Pass and Mammoth Crest.
Easy
Walking along a well-kept trail that’s mostly flat. No obstacles are present.
577 m away
The more difficult ascent up Mammoth Mountain.
Severe Hiking
796 m away
Traverse the top of a stunning mountain ridge.
Difficult Hiking
798 m away
A truly stunning alpine lake vista!
Difficult Hiking
2.7 km away
A quick hike to Emerald Lake with the option to continue on to Skelton Lake
Easy Hiking
2.8 km away
A superb bang-for-your-buck lake hike.
Moderate Hiking
2.8 km away
A popular out-and-back with incredible alpine views.
Difficult Hiking
5.1 km away
Classic hiking trail to the summit of Mammoth Mountain, with the option to shorten the hike with the gondola.
Difficult Hiking
5.9 km away
Visit both the upper and lower falls on this hike.
Moderate Hiking
5.9 km away
An ultra-popular hike to a stunning waterfall.
Easy Hiking
5.9 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
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