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Beautiful lake off the Highway 395. I felt so lucky to find a parking space in front of the lake where the boat launch was! It was such a beautiful sight of the mountains and the lake. Nice place to take a walk with family and friends!
One of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Mammoth area. This lake is located just a few miles off the 395, maybe 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes. We were in the off season and parking was free, but limited. I'd suggest getting there early. One of the unique features of this lake was a trail all the way around it-approximately 3 miles. Relatively flat and easy. To see the lake from various views just added to the specialness. A lot of fishermen say the lake has good trout fishing. We only experienced the happy cheers of people on a boat with their catches! There are placards with information on how the lake received its name as well as a sad historical event that took place there. This lake is worth a look if you're in the area!
We have driven by this exit plenty of times while traveling on Highway 395. A couple of weeks ago, we finally had the time and opportunity to check out this mountain lake. Such a stunning and serene lake created from mountain snow run off. The lakes history is quite interesting. It was originally called Mt. Diablo Lake, but there was a huge prison outbreak in 1870 where several convicts fled to this area and were eventually caught except for nine of them. Thus they changed the name to Convict Lake. The lake is located just two miles off of the highway. It is not a large lake. It covers 168 acres and is approximately 140 feet deep. The water is a beautiful turquoise color and the lake is totally surrounded by mountains. There is a 2.5 mile loop/hike that you can take. We did not have enough time to complete it but next time. The lake offers camping, trout fishing, hiking and boating. It is very peaceful here within the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountains. So glad we stopped and look forward to coming back and exploring.
Definitely worth the short detour off of the 395 freeway to see. We went here after visiting the geological hot springs on the other side of the 395. Beautiful place.
Recently stopped by to check out Convict Lake while I was in the Inyo/Mammoth area. If you Google "what to do in Inyo," this comes up. Convict Lake is a tiny alpine lake hidden up in the Inyo Mountains, basically just across the road from the popular hot springs spots on 395. What really drew me in to this lake was the skyline. The mountains in Inyo have such captivating, interesting tops. When I saw the sign for the turnoff for the lake, I couldn't help but drive up there to see how the mountains looked over the water. Plus, it was almost sunset time. This lake is truly tiny, so maybe for some people, it wouldn't be worth the drive up to see it, but I'm glad I did. The view was so gorgeous and unique. Apparently, you can hike around the lake, and you can also camp here (there is a campground with 85 sites within walking distance), but I did none of that, since I didn't know, and was not prepared. While I was visiting, a group of climbers was playing in the trees. If you look closely, you may be able to spot one of them in one of my photos. This is a very beautiful and serene spot to relax or hang out. Definitely worth driving by to check it out if you're in the area. I believe there was a $5 parking/day use fee, and enough parking spots for about twenty cars.
I hiked an easy 2.5 miles around Convict Lake and it was stunning!! The mountains surrounding the lake are incredible and they were reflected a bit in the lake since it was morning! There were lots of people there fishing. The lot I parked at had plenty of spots and no fee.
Google tells me that convict lake is probably the only lake can be assessable by car in winter. Yes, it's true. The spring is easy. The lake is beautiful beside the mountain. The view is spectacular. Nobody here on a windy winter day. We have this whole lake for ourselves! Took a 0.3 miles walk along the lake, it's soothing!
So when I got there, there was a minimum amount of snow. Saw a little beach. Where nice hiking trails. Took pictures with my family. I recommend you should go here. It is very nice here. Leaves were yellow and green
10/19/2023 I guess when the word spreads how well fishing is here... it gets crowded! On our way down to Bishop, and had some time to throw in a line... Wrong!!! Bumper to bumper and no parking to fish.. Maybe next year.. lol!
Definitely worth the slight detour off the 395 to see this beautiful lake and backdrop. Lots of people were trout fishing, standup paddle boarding, or cruising on powerboats. This is now one of my must see stops in the area. I recommend spending a couple hours here weather permitting. Looking forward to seeing it again in the winter!
We were there for 1st a couple of weeks ago. Summer time is a great time down here. Went fishing- line broke(oh well!) it's a very gorgeous and scenic lake!
A beautiful lake with a tragic past. If you're looking for a nice 2.5-mile loop hike, then the convict lake is a great option. This hike has mild elevation changes, and some sections are without shade. Probably the biggest obstacle, and maybe the most fun will be hiking over the creek. You should take your shoes off, but it's probably easier just to keep them on and let them dry as you hike. I found it difficult putting my sox back on with wet feet. Water can get up to your knees in one place. There's a parking lot and bathrooms.
This is one of the most impressive, beautiful lakes I have ever been to. I had no idea what to expect but driving in left my jaw dropped. The scenery is absolutely unreal, like straight out of a movie. I felt like I was in a national park. The lane is beautiful, the mountains are just out of this world. Even growing up in Reno and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevadas, this was an amazing drop in for us and I could just live on this lake forever. Can't wait to come back and spend more time in this gorgeous place
Beautiful lake with nice trails around it. The beach can be busy but worth it to lounge in the shallows, great for pets. Cool water and picturesque views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Lots of boats, kayakers and paddle boarders on the lake enjoying the summer day. Interesting history about the lake, had to look it up due to the name. In the late 1800's there was a prison outbreak and many convicts fled here to hideout. Tip: instead of paying $ for parking, go through the wooden poles to the right before the toll booth to park for free and access the same beach. dirt road but worth it to save $. read more
+ Fun, beautiful place to kayak. We enjoyed the 4-person tandem pedal kayaking with Convict Lake Resort Marina Rental. . Pedal kayaking is done with your feet, like bike riding, instead of with your arms. + CLRMR's 4-person pedal kayak raft is secure, reliable, and good quality. + Pleasant ambience. Aside from 1 or 2 other boats blasting music, it's almost like we had the whole lake to ourselves. . Life vests are under our seats, and optional. . No seat belts. . Lotta fishers here, - so gotta be careful not to pedal close to their lines. - 4 stinky, under-maintained restrooms (37°35'38.8"N 118°51'04.4"W). - Water spigot not working. + Free parking, - but very crowded. read more
I visit Convict Lake every year because it's just so beautiful! No wonder those escaped prisoners years ago stayed here! You cannot resist such a beautiful lake with the mountain backdrop. Okay, the parking is terrible but if you're patient and parking lot pimpin', there will be an open spot for you! The water is freezing here in the summer but that is why I love it so much! I love being the 1 out of 3 people who swims here lol. If you want to fish here, I promise there's no fish here. We can never catch anything here! 10/10 will always visit again. read more
Beautiful lake off the Highway 395. I felt so lucky to find a parking space in front of the lake where the boat launch was! It was such a beautiful sight of the mountains and the lake. Nice place to take a walk with family and friends! read more
One of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Mammoth area. This lake is located just a few miles off the 395, maybe 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes. We were in the off season and parking was free, but limited. I'd suggest getting there early. One of the unique features of this lake was a trail all the way around it-approximately 3 miles. Relatively flat and easy. To see the lake from various views just added to the specialness. A lot of fishermen say the lake has good trout fishing. We only experienced the happy cheers of people on a boat with their catches! There are placards with information on how the lake received its name as well as a sad historical event that took place there. This lake is worth a look if you're in the area! read more
We have driven by this exit plenty of times while traveling on Highway 395. A couple of weeks ago, we finally had the time and opportunity to check out this mountain lake. Such a stunning and serene lake created from mountain snow run off. The lakes history is quite interesting. It was originally called Mt. Diablo Lake, but there was a huge prison outbreak in 1870 where several convicts fled to this area and were eventually caught except for nine of them. Thus they changed the name to Convict Lake. The lake is located just two miles off of the highway. It is not a large lake. It covers 168 acres and is approximately 140 feet deep. The water is a beautiful turquoise color and the lake is totally surrounded by mountains. There is a 2.5 mile loop/hike that you can take. We did not have enough time to complete it but next time. The lake offers camping, trout fishing, hiking and boating. It is very peaceful here within the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountains. So glad we stopped and look forward to coming back and exploring. read more
2 years ago
Recently stopped by to check out Convict Lake while I was in the Inyo/Mammoth area. If you Google "what to do in Inyo," this comes up. Convict Lake is a tiny alpine lake hidden up in the Inyo Mountains, basically just across the road from the popular hot springs spots on 395. What really drew me in to this lake was the skyline. The mountains in Inyo have such captivating, interesting tops. When I saw the sign for the turnoff for the lake, I couldn't help but drive up there to see how the mountains looked over the water. Plus, it was almost sunset time. This lake is truly tiny, so maybe for some people, it wouldn't be worth the drive up to see it, but I'm glad I did. The view was so gorgeous and unique. Apparently, you can hike around the lake, and you can also camp here (there is a campground with 85 sites within walking distance), but I did none of that, since I didn't know, and was not prepared. While I was visiting, a group of climbers was playing in the trees. If you look closely, you may be able to spot one of them in one of my photos. This is a very beautiful and serene spot to relax or hang out. Definitely worth driving by to check it out if you're in the area. I believe there was a $5 parking/day use fee, and enough parking spots for about twenty cars. read more
I hiked an easy 2.5 miles around Convict Lake and it was stunning!! The mountains surrounding the lake are incredible and they were reflected a bit in the lake since it was morning! There were lots of people there fishing. The lot I parked at had plenty of spots and no fee. read more
Google tells me that convict lake is probably the only lake can be assessable by car in winter. Yes, it's true. The spring is easy. The lake is beautiful beside the mountain. The view is spectacular. Nobody here on a windy winter day. We have this whole lake for ourselves! Took a 0.3 miles walk along the lake, it's soothing! read more
11 months ago
So when I got there, there was a minimum amount of snow. Saw a little beach. Where nice hiking trails. Took pictures with my family. I recommend you should go here. It is very nice here. Leaves were yellow and green read more
10/19/2023 I guess when the word spreads how well fishing is here... it gets crowded! On our way down to Bishop, and had some time to throw in a line... Wrong!!! Bumper to bumper and no parking to fish.. Maybe next year.. lol! read more
Definitely worth the slight detour off the 395 to see this beautiful lake and backdrop. Lots of people were trout fishing, standup paddle boarding, or cruising on powerboats. This is now one of my must see stops in the area. I recommend spending a couple hours here weather permitting. Looking forward to seeing it again in the winter! read more
1 year ago
We were there for 1st a couple of weeks ago. Summer time is a great time down here. Went fishing- line broke(oh well!) it's a very gorgeous and scenic lake! read more
A beautiful lake with a tragic past. If you're looking for a nice 2.5-mile loop hike, then the convict lake is a great option. This hike has mild elevation changes, and some sections are without shade. Probably the biggest obstacle, and maybe the most fun will be hiking over the creek. You should take your shoes off, but it's probably easier just to keep them on and let them dry as you hike. I found it difficult putting my sox back on with wet feet. Water can get up to your knees in one place. There's a parking lot and bathrooms. read more
This is one of the most impressive, beautiful lakes I have ever been to. I had no idea what to expect but driving in left my jaw dropped. The scenery is absolutely unreal, like straight out of a movie. I felt like I was in a national park. The lane is beautiful, the mountains are just out of this world. Even growing up in Reno and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevadas, this was an amazing drop in for us and I could just live on this lake forever. Can't wait to come back and spend more time in this gorgeous place read more
This review is for Convict Lake Loop which was a ~2.5 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Beautiful morning views of the lake and distant mountains. Unfortunately, the trail was flooded halfway so we turned around. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/Nd8uElLNuwE read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
My husband and his dad had some of their very best days on this lake, so of course he'd want to make memories on the same lake with our daughter. We were staying in a nearby cabin, so it's a very short drive from there to the lake. The parking lot is small so early morning arrival is recommended. We rented a pontoon boat, the staff really takes their time in going over things with you and they're super nice. This lake is small and sadly we didn't catch any fish while on the boat, but we did catch fish in a little spot we found by foot on our last day there. There's a nice walkway that goes around the lake also. It stormed on one of our days on the lake and it was so nice to take in the weather. Boats are also dog friendly, our little dog loved being on the boat. We love this little lake and we can't wait to go back! read more
1 year ago
Me and my son went backpacking to Convict Lake and it was amazing, the fishing was very good there are so many fish to catch, the mountains and the lake are very beautiful. We saw an eagle taking a fish out of the lake . read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
This was a beautiful lake! There's also a trail you can walk around and bring your dogs. Be considerate and please keep your dogs on a leash. One owner's dog was off leash and ran up to us with no warning. Our female dog doesn't do well with unexpected dogs coming up to her. I wish we had a boat when we came but we were still able to find a spot on the side and fish. It's very pretty and peaceful. We saw many others fishing but no one catching at the end of November and people were walking on the trail too. I would love to come back in the summer time. In November it was still lovely and felt cool. There's parking by the lake as well! Overall a great spot to see in Mammoth. read more
Unlike most alpine lakes require effort (hiking) to reach, Convict Lake got to be one of most accessible high altitude lake. From 395, turn to Convict Road and within 10 mins (approx 2 miles) drive you will arrive at the destination, Convict Lake. There are few points to access the loop trail from different parking sites. At the start of the trail the sign read "accessible trail said 0.3 miles", however, AllTrails listed it a 2.5 miles loop with 177 ft elevation gain and rated as "Easy" for all skill level. I didn't finish the loop as the weather wasn't the greatest, the wind gusted occasionally turning the water into a ferocious monster...the awe of nature... read more
6 years ago
Ahh Convict Lake, you are so temperamental, much like the violent criminals that created your namesake. You can be placid and calm one minute, then torrid and violent the next with 50-mile-an-hour winds that blow over sunshades and destroy everyone's tents. Of course, Convict Lake is also extremely beautiful so it can be forgiven for such poor behavior. Its pure, crystal-clear waters are fed by glacial snow runoff from the beautiful mountains that surround it. Early in the morning, the lake is glassy and mirror-smooth, making for some awesome views and great photography opportunities. Fishing can be good, though not as much as it once was because so many people fish now. There are amazing little beaches and places to hang out during the day. At night, the stars are absolutely brilliant with no light pollution, so you can see millions of stars and the arm of the Milky Way galaxy in all its glory. When we camped here, the comet NEOWISE was in the western sky and was truly amazing. You can rent pontoon and fishing boats from the small marina near the lake entrance to cruise out on the water. They also have a launch ramp if you have your own boat. Five stars and totally worth visiting if you are going to Mammoth. read more
Beautiful place to visit. You can walk the three mile trail around the lake in less than an hour while enjoying the beautiful view of glistening lake with the snow laden mountain backdrop. At midpoint of the trail closest to the mountain, the trail goes from dirt to paved and you will walk above the streams that flow from the mountain to the lake. It's a great trek and worth the time. read more
This was one of the best experiences! The lake is absolutely gorgeous, clear blue green water you can see right to the bottom of the lake. Small parking lot can get pretty busy. The customer service was awesome!!!! Very efficient, friendly, courteous, what a great experience this made for us. You order your kayak, boat, paddle board, pontoon and they have it cleaned and ready for you. They go through all the safety protocol and supply you with a radio in case of emergencies or just in general to have if you need to contact them. The lake is not big, but is perfect for swimming, fishing, hiking around, or just relaxing. Highly recommend. read more
3 years ago
We hiked the lake loop. It was a fairly easy hike with lots of shade. You do have to cross a few streams but there's logs and rocks to step over. Your shoes might get wet though so prep for that. We went june 2023 and there's was still some parts of the trail covered with snow so we had to climb over that. Over all very family friendly hike, we saw some families with very small kids and also lots of dogs. The views are breathtaking. I kept seeing people say to get there early...well "early" is different for everyone- so for reference on off season we got there at 8am and still found parking...by the time we left at around 11 am all parking lots were full and it was crowded. read more
We made a quick pit stop at Convict lake heading home from Mammoth lakes. It is about two miles from highway 395 and a must see if your in or passing the area. Theres a loop hike you can do and the Lake offers camping and lodging. The color of the lake makes it one of my local favorites. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
very nice, beautiful lake. Dog loves swimming in the water. Very good for fishing. Recommend going. read more
2 years ago
Beautiful, chilly, and absolutely worth visiting and taking a dip! 10/10 would freeze my tail off again. read more
An easy-to-access Lake with absolutely gorgeous scenery. Convict Lake can found on the further end of Mammoth Lakes and is located just off of Highway 395. The parking lot is small and is located directly in front of the lake. It is surrounded by a small, paved trail with sporadic side trails leading to the lakes Beach. It is handicap accessible. Ever wonder why it's named Convict Lake? Way back in the day a group of convicts escaped from a prison in Carson City and a posse was put together to go hunt them down. The showdown came to head here at the late where multiple convicts were captured and killed by the posse. Unfortunately, in the shootout a member of the posse, Sheriff Morrison, was also killed. So the late itself was named, "Convict" while the Mountain that looms or "watches" over the lake is named after the Sheriff; "Mount Morrison". Head out and enjoy. You won't regret it. It's great for everybody. read more
5 years ago
Thought it would be an easy 3 mile walk around the lake but we were surprised with some tramping through the snow. Loved it! Not for families with little kids though. Great views and relaxing! read more
4 years ago
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More info about Convict Lake
2000 Convict Lake Rd
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
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(760) 934-3800
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http://www.convictlake.com
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All the campsites I searched were ful, are there places where you can just pop up your tent and camp?
https://tmbtent.com/mammoth-lakes-dispersed-camping/ 100% free
