Crystal Lake
Mammoth Lakes, California
| Address: | Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, USA |
| GPS: |
37°36'12.6"N 119°0'40.4"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
Lakes Rivers Trails
Camp and Hike
Unlike many hikes in the Sierra's, Crystal lake can be done as a day hike and as the perfect way to get away for a bit. As hikers make their way to the lake, they will see the monolith Crystal Crag, lakes such as Lake George, Lake Marie, and Lake Mamie. The trail is about 3.2 miles round trip with some elevation gain and switchbacks. While it may be appealing to just go straight up and avoid the many switchbacks, the trail can get pretty steep and so this is not the safest option. Overall the trail is very well kept, with a lot of shade along the way to help keep the summer sun off hikers backs. Dogs are allowed on the trail, but observe any additional rules that the area might have concerning pets. Along the way, be sure to stop and lookout and see the many beautiful lakes and forests. Hikers will go until they reach the crest of the trail and will then descend down to the lake. Once at the lake hikers can go either to the west end or the east end. The west end tends to have more of a rocky shoreline, though still pleasant. On the east side, the shoreline is a bit more flat and give more of an area to enjoy a picnic or soak in the sun.
There is a parking lot at the trailhead for Lake George, and if that fills up, visitors can park on the side of the road without paying a fee, however they need to be completely off the road or will be fined. In addition to hiking at Crystal Lake, visitors can take a quick dip in the lake, go fishing, or enjoy a nice picnic on the shore of the lake.
More Information
Buy Domains - Find a Premium Domain & Open Your Doors, BuyDomains.com
Buy a domain and see how a premium domain can be the best investment. Your business starts here. Buy a domain today.
https://www.buydomains.com/Hike to Crystal Lake in Mammoth - SoCalHiker
This hike to Crystal Lake in the Mammoth Lakes area is a perfect day hike.
https://socalhiker.net/hikes/hike-to-crystal-lake-in-mammoth/hiking-crystal-lake.html
Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details.
http://campfirechic.com/2010/10/hiking-crystal-lake.htmlBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Mammoth Lakes, California
- Head west (276 ft)
- Turn left toward Main St (240 ft)
- Turn right onto Main St (0.5 mi)
- Continue straight onto Lake Mary Rd (394 ft)
- Continue straight to stay on Lake Mary Rd (2.2 mi)
- Continue onto Lake Mary RdParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(1.1 mi)
- Continue onto Lake Mary Rd (0.5 mi)
- Turn left onto Around Lake Mary Rd (0.3 mi)
- Turn right onto Lake George RdDestination will be on the right(0.3 mi)
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Crowley Lake
Mammoth Lakes, California
15.0 miles EA reservoir famed for ancient volcanic columns rising from the lakebed, along with trout fishing, and stunning Eastern Sierra scenery near Mammoth Lakes.
Hike, Swim 0.4 mi
Crowley Lake Stone Columns
Mammoth Lakes, California
16.0 miles EOtherworldly 20-foot tufa columns rising from the Eastern Sierra lakebed at Crowley Lake — a geological wonder formed over 600,000 years of calcium carbonate buildup.
Hike
Standish Hickey Area
Lakeshore, California
19.2 miles SA two-mile stretch of the south fork of the Eel River inside a redwood canyon 180 miles from San Francisco — swim, kayak, fish, or hike, then camp near the 1,200-year-old Captain Miles Standish Tree.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim 3.6 mi
Lyell Canyon
Wawona, California
24.0 miles NWAn 8-mile, nearly flat hike through Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows along the Lyell Fork river, with creek crossings, Kuna Creek cascades, and backcountry quiet far from the crowds.
Hike 4.0 mi
Mono Pass
Yosemite Valley, CA
24.1 miles NWAn 8-mile high-Sierra hike at 10,600 feet crossing meadows and several lakes, climbing through Bloody Canyon to sweeping views of Mono Valley and Mono Lake.
Hike, Swim 1.8 mi
Gaylor Lakes
Yosemite Valley, CA
25.6 miles NWA 2-mile Yosemite hike with views the entire way — Dana Meadows, mountain peaks, and a high valley holding five separate lakes, with a mostly flat valley to wander once you top the pass.
Hike, Swim
Elizabeth Lake
Wawona, California
25.7 miles NWA 4.8-mile hike with a 1,000-foot gain to a quiet alpine lake tucked between Cockscomb, Unicorn Peak, and Johnson's Peak in Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows backcountry.
Hike, Swim
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
26.3 miles NWA stunning alpine meadow in the high Sierra with granite domes and mountain views, the meandering Tuolumne River, and access to Yosemite backcountry — open summer only when the park road is clear.
Camp, Hike 0.8-4.1 mi
Dog Lake and Lembert Dome
Yosemite Valley, CA
26.8 miles NWA 4-mile round-trip hike through Tuolumne Meadows wildflowers to a serene evergreen lake and a granite dome with sweeping views — doable in 1.5 to 3 hours.
Hike, Swim 0.9-3.2 mi
Cathedral Lakes
Wawona, California
28.1 miles NWA gorgeous 7-mile High Sierra hike along the John Muir Trail to twin lakes at 10,000 feet, framed by Cathedral, Echo, and Tressider Peaks with sweeping views of Tenaya Lake from a rock shelf.
Hike, Swim 4.0 mi
Saddlebag Lake
Lee Vining, California
28.8 miles NWAt 10,008 ft, this Eastern Sierra alpine lake offers exceptional trout fishing, a scenic four-mile loop, and a water taxi into the heart of the Twenty Lakes Basin.
Camp, Canoe, Hike 1.9 mi
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
29.1 miles WA grueling 14-mile round-trip hike with 4,800 feet of gain to the summit of Half Dome, including a cable section in the final 400 feet — a permit is required and a sunrise start is essential.
Hike
Tenaya Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
29.4 miles NWTenaya Lake's glacier-carved granite shoreline offers a spacious east-beach for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking with stunning Yosemite dome views all around.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim 5.5 mi
Ostrander Lake
Wawona, California
29.5 miles WAn 11.4-mile Yosemite hike to a semi-secluded swim lake surrounded by granite mountains — wildflowers, streams, and meadows in summer; open for cross-country skiing in winter via Ostrander Lodge.
Hike, Swim 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
30.7 miles NWAn 11-mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin with 800 feet of gain, passing Tuolumne Falls, Soda Springs, wildflower meadows, and the stunning White Cascade.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin, California
30.7 miles NWA popular introductory Yosemite High Country backcountry hike following the Tuolumne River to a High Sierra Camp beside the White Cascade waterfall, with further options to Waterwheel Falls.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim 2.1 mi
Snow Creek Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
30.7 miles WA 2,140-foot, seven-drop cascade tucked deep in Tenaya Canyon — best spotted from the Mirror Lake Loop, where you can also take a swim before hunting for the falls from the Snow Creek Trail junction.
Backpack, Hike 0.4-2.1 mi
Illilouette Falls
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
31.0 miles WA 4-mile hike starting downhill from Glacier Point to a footbridge view of Illilouette Falls — with a side trip on the quieter Panorama Trail adding Half Dome and Nevada Falls views.
Hike
Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
31.0 miles WA paved, car-free trail winds to this seasonal lake at the base of Half Dome, offering a still mirror reflection and a popular summer swimming hole.
Backpack, Hike, Swim 1.9-2.9 mi
Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
31.2 miles WA steep, mist-soaked Yosemite staircase hike climbing 639 stone steps past Vernal and Nevada Falls — with Half Dome, Whitecap, and Mt. Broderick views from the switchbacks above.
Backpack, HikeNearby Campsites
Crowley Lake Campground
Crowley Lake, California
13.5 miles ENestled in the stunning Eastern Sierra near Crowley Lake, this BLM campground offers first-come, first-served sites for tents, RVs, and trailers with breathtaking high-desert views.
Camp
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Mammoth Lakes, California
13.7 miles EA soaking hot spring in Long Valley's open sagebrush plain — pools range from 95°F to 105°F, with a larger deeper pool and smaller, hotter pools, reached by a 0.2-mile wooden boardwalk from the parking area.
Camp, Hot Springs
Standish Hickey Area
Lakeshore, California
19.2 miles SA two-mile stretch of the south fork of the Eel River inside a redwood canyon 180 miles from San Francisco — swim, kayak, fish, or hike, then camp near the 1,200-year-old Captain Miles Standish Tree.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
26.3 miles NWA stunning alpine meadow in the high Sierra with granite domes and mountain views, the meandering Tuolumne River, and access to Yosemite backcountry — open summer only when the park road is clear.
Camp, Hike 4.0 mi
Saddlebag Lake
Lee Vining, California
28.8 miles NWAt 10,008 ft, this Eastern Sierra alpine lake offers exceptional trout fishing, a scenic four-mile loop, and a water taxi into the heart of the Twenty Lakes Basin.
Camp, Canoe, Hike 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
30.7 miles NWAn 11-mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin with 800 feet of gain, passing Tuolumne Falls, Soda Springs, wildflower meadows, and the stunning White Cascade.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin, California
30.7 miles NWA popular introductory Yosemite High Country backcountry hike following the Tuolumne River to a High Sierra Camp beside the White Cascade waterfall, with further options to Waterwheel Falls.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
32.7 miles WThe Merced River circles Yosemite Valley with whitewater, swimming holes, gold-panning spots, and unbeatable views of Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point at every bend.
Camp, Swim, Whitewater 5.7 mi
Ten Lakes
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
34.6 miles NWA 6.4-mile hike from Yosemite Creek to three of the Ten Lakes Basin's seven lakes, through wildflower meadows, forests, and past the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, gaining 2,200 feet.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Crane Flat
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
44.2 miles WFramed between two giant sequoia groves, Crane Flat meadow is a quiet Yosemite base camp for birding, stargazing, and seasonal hikes to Lukens and Harden Lake.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Snowshoe