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Mammoth Lakes, California

Looking for the best hiking in Mammoth Lakes? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Mammoth Lakes. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Mammoth Lakes

  • Tuolumne County, California

    Middle Gaylor Lake

    1.46 mi / 764 ft gain
    The main trail to the Middle Gaylor Lake is about 1.5 miles round-trip, but if you’re looking for more adventure, you can hike a little further to Upper Gaylor Lake (which will add a mile to your trip) or continue on to the Great Sierra Mine (which will add 2 miles to your trip). The Gaylor Lake...
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  • Benton, California

    Photograph Wild Mustangs in Mono County

    Since these are wild horses, tracking them can be difficult. However, they tend to play and graze in a certain field in Mono County, right outside of Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite! From CA-395 turn onto CA-120 towards Mono Lake. Take this road for 21 miles until you reach Dobie Meadows Road, a one l...
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  • Lee Vining, California

    Climb the Third Pillar of Dana

    From Highway 120 (Tioga Road) you can park at the lot just above Tioga Lake. Another mile up the road is the Yosemite entrance, so if you hit that, you've gone too far. Follow the trail around the south side of the lake and into Glacier Canyon. After about 2 miles you'll start scrambling on the N...
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  • Lee Vining, California

    Mono Lake Boardwalk

    2.0
    0.69 mi / 30 ft gain
    Mono Lake Boardwalk is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Lee Vining, California.
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  • Bishop, California

    Hike Pine Creek Pass to Lower Pine Lake

    10 mi / 2500 ft gain
    The Pine Creek Pass is usable for day hiking and overnight adventures. If you'd like to spend the night, be sure to pickup a wilderness permit! If you plan to bring a four legged friend, make sure to indicate that on your wilderness permit request. There are several lakes you can stop at througho...
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  • Lee Vining, California

    Junction Campground, Mono County

    Junction campground is by far one of my favorite campsites when I am visiting the High Sierra and Tuolumne Meadows. The only downside is, you can only camp certain months; usually from June through October when highway 120 is open.  The Junction campground is far away from the crowds of Yosemite...
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  • Lakeshore, California

    Hike to White Bark VIsta

    2.3 mi / 462 ft gain
    A short 1 mile hike in from Kaiser Pass will lead you to the top of a ridge line with incredible views toward the east. There are two pit toilets located at the top of Kaiser Pass. If you have a high clearance, 4x4/AWD vehicle you can probably drive to this location. (I made it up here in a stock...
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  • Lakeshore, California

    Evolution Valley via Florence Lake

    4.5
    30.36 mi / 3238 ft gain
    You can get to the Evolution Basin a variety of ways, but the easiest is through the Florence Lake Trailhead. Here, you can choose to either take the Florence Lake Ferry across the lake, or save $25 and hike the extra 4 miles around the lake. Personally, I would choose the ferry. About five mile...
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  • Lakeshore, California

    Backpack to Crater Lake, Sierra National Forest

    8.4 mi / 2100 ft gain
    Starting at Lake Florence, this hike starts out with a climb up and keeps this up over the next 3 miles. After about 3 miles of climbing you reach another lake, Dutch Lake which provides shade and a nice place to rest. From there it's a relatively flat 1.2 miles in to your destination. Once at Cr...
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  • 37.876736,-119.346085

    Glen Aulin

    4.8
    12.19 mi / 600 ft gain
    Start your hike to this waterfall oasis in the heart of the sierra at the parking lot for the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. The Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp sits along the beautifully winding Tuolumne River. White Cascade an 80ft waterfall sits at the edge of camp and provides an excellent swim...
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  • Tuolumne County, California

    Camp at Tuolumne Meadows Campground

    5.0
    Tuolumne Meadows is on Tioga road northeast of Yosemite Valley, at elevation 8,600 feet. Sites are available July-September at $26. Dogs are allowed but be sure to pack the leash!  More info: https://www.nps.gov/yose/plany...
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  • YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California

    Mt. Conness

    5.0
    19.03 mi / 5400 ft gain
    This trip is best done as a 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip making camp at Young Lakes, however it is possible to do it in a single day long haul. Start at the Lembert Dome Parking Lot and take the trail via the Dog Lake route towards Young Lakes. It's about 7 miles to the upper of the three You...
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  • YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California

    Dog Lake Loop

    3.0
    3.71 mi / 740 ft gain
    This 3.7 mile roundtrip hike begins at the center of Tuolumne Meadows (shuttle stop #2) at the Lembert Dome/Glen Aulin trailhead parking lot. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the east side of the lot, there you will also find the trailhead to Dog Lake.  The trail begins at 8,500 ft and c...
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  • YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California

    Fletcher Lake and Vogelsang Peak

    19.03 mi / 2887 ft gain
    Before you head out for the trip, you’ll need to get a wilderness permit. You can get one online from the Yosemite website or pick one up at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center or from the Wilderness Center in Yosemite Valley. Go to Yosemite and take Highway 120 up to Tuolumne Meadows. You ca...
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  • YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California

    Young Lakes

    4.7
    14.14 mi / 1700 ft gain
    The Young Lakes trail starts from the Lembert Dome parking area and then winds up around 6 miles into the high country past alpine meadows and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Lower and Middle Young Lakes are beautiful, but you're going to want to push on to Upper Young Lake, where y...
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  • Wawona, California

    Lembert Dome via Dog Lake Trail

    4.0
    3.98 mi / 750 ft gain
    Lembert Dome may seem impossible to scale when observing it from the trailhead, but it is actually a relatively easy hike up to the summit. It is by far the best way to see and admire Tuolumne Meadows, not to mention the granite top, which is a wonderland to explore. There are a few ways to reac...
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