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    Duck Pass Trailhead

    4.8 (14 reviews)

    Duck Pass Trailhead Photos

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    Spencer Q.

    Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I'd suggest starting here as opposed to the trailhead that goes to the Emerald Lake. If you can make it to Pika Lake you won't be disappointed! What I loved about this hike was that each lake is spread out pretty evenly so the feels to each isn't quite as long.

    Duck pass with Duck lake below
    Stacie M.

    Had a great long weekend backpacking the duck pass trail. We started here at the duck pass trailhead, where on a Friday morning there was plenty of parking. There was also a bear box for us to leave our stuff we weren't bringing with us, and a bathroom (pit toilet) before we headed out. Had some friendly conversations with other campers and hikers along the way and then headed out. We hiked in ~2.8 miles (passing Arrowhead Lake and Skeleton Lake) and then stopped at Barney Lake. The hike was not easy with packs on, but I would rate moderate, and also was shady most of the way. We got lucky at there was a huge area cleared (looked like other campers had stopped there previously) and wasn't taken. So we plopped down our packs to claim the area and changed into our bathingsuits for a well deserved dip in the lake and to eat lunch. This area for camping was perfect, we had a stream close by for pumping water and lots of big rocks for laying out packs etc. Dirt land was relatively flat for sleeping and dry which was nice. Don't forget your bear boxes if you're staying overnight, although know bears encountered, thank goodness! Next morning we left our tents and packs, just took our day packs and hiked the rest of the trail over to Duck lake. This would have been a really tough hike with packs, there's less shade and a lot of steep switchbacks. With daypacks though this was a lovely hike. Such beautiful views of the lakes behind you as well as Duck lake ahead. We chose to follow the Duck Lake trail to the southeast edge of the lake (~2.25 miles from Barney Lake) where there was a nice beach we could sit for lunch and dip in. The lake was freezing, but well worth it. Clear and just so beautiful. Hike back went pretty quickly, a bit of a hike up from the lake but then all downhill from there back to Barney Lake. We stayed another night, enjoyed our nook between Barney lake and the stream. And then hiked out the next day, which even with our packs was relatively easy, mostly downhill and shady. Would have loved to make it to pike lake and purple lake, but just didn't have the time.

    Barney Lake as seen from trail along final ascent to Duck Pass.   Mammoth Mountain in the background.

    Numerous alpine lakes and a moderate climb make for a fun day. This is definitely a classic hike in the Mammoth Lakes area. Highlights for us were Skeleton Lake, Barney Lake, and Duck Pass. Once above Barney Lake the views really open up and one can see Barney Lake, Skeleton Lake, Mammoth Mountain, and parts of the Mammoth Crest. I give this trail a 5 for scenery and a 3 for trail quality, hence 4 for the overall rating. Trail suffers from overuse by pack animals with soil worn down to sand and rocks making for difficult steps along a path of unnecessary switchbacks. I can say that it's not fun to encounter a string of pack animals while on a dusty section of the trail. Nice as the riders are, you may be covered in dust and left choking.

    Husband descending the switchbacks near the top of Duck Pass.
    Tracy S.

    This is a classic Sierra dayhike that passes several gorgeous lakes on its way to dramatic views at the top of Duck Pass. A trip all the way to Duck Lake is a little over 4 miles. The trailhead is at the back of Coldwater Campground (this campground is quite large, and walking through it to get to the trailhead will add nearly a mile to your hike), and it consists of a large paved parking area, bathrooms, and bear lockers. The day we were there the parking lot was nearing full, and I imagine at times it can fill up quite early. The first 1.5 miles of the hike is a steady climb through shady forest. The switchbacks are well-graded and, under normal conditions, would be fairly easy, but at over 9000' elevation, nothing is easy, and you are likely to become winded quite early. After you pass Arrowhead Lake, things smooth out a bit and become very scenic. The next stop is Skelton Lake, and it is impossible not to stop here for a short break...maybe even a swim. Up and up to Barney Lake, past which the trail turns into rocky switchbacks in the sun to get to the top of the pass. The switchbacks aren't really so terrible as you might expect, and there are plenty of good places to stop for a rest if you need to. When we were here, late season snow was still blocking up much of the trail, so we climbed to within .5 miles of the pass before we decided to turn around. (The view is plenty good from that point.) Be sure to check trail conditions before hitting this trail, as snow lingers long into the summer.

    Gorgeous views all around!
    Giselle B.

    We didn't do the full hike, but we did get about halfway through with three children 10 and under and a dog. It was a really easy, very beautiful hike. This is probably some of the most beautiful summer hiking I've ever done, and each lake we passed had its own beauty. I can't believe I spent all these winters up here and never came up for the summer. Highly recommended!

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

    The view from the top of Duck Pass is magnificent. It's about 5 miles in Donegal it on horseback and on foot.

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    5 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Great little Hike. Not super crowded with droves of people like some the hiking areas in Mammoth.

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    14 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Duck Pass Trailhead

    Next morning we left our tents and packs, just took our day packs and hiked the rest of the trail over to Duck lake.

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    Earthquake Fault

    Earthquake Fault

    4.5(30 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    Really easy to get to, no mosquitos, and not crowded at all. An older gentleman there who I think…read morewas an off duty park Ranger or something told us all about the fault, cases of people falling in, and what to look out for, etc. He said it's more impressive looking from the other side of the main road (going from Mammoth Lakes to Mammoth Mountain), though we couldn't find any signs or trailheads for this part afterwards. Nonetheless this is a pretty neat, quick stop with no hike required to get to it.

    I recently stopped by this earthquake fault to check it out while in the Mammoth area. It was easy…read moreto find, and parking was easy. Based on the photos, I was expecting this to be more like a cliff with a tall crack in it. In reality, it's more like a very long ditch. If you're into geology, or if you're super impressed by thinking about the earth splitting open, then maybe you should check this out. Personally, I wasn't very moved by this experience. If you didn't know that this was an earthquake fault, then there would be nothing impressive about it. It's just a very long gorge that is kind of deep in some places. I'm not sure if rappelling into the fault is allowed, but I thought it would be interesting to get a closer up view of some of the rocks and pools on the bottom. Honestly not really worth driving out of your way to see this unless you happen to be a geology fanatic, or are just dead set on seeing every possible sight near Mammoth.

    Photos
    Earthquake Fault
    Earthquake Fault
    Earthquake Fault

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    Horseshoe Lake - Lake is drying up and this warning sign says it all

    Horseshoe Lake

    4.3(34 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    The first time I visited HorseShoe Lake, the lot was packed, and the hike was no joke! I was out of…read moreshape, and there was still a lot of snow on the trail in July! It was tough. My cousin even had a close call when he accidentally slid off the trail, ran down 100 feet, and narrowly missed hitting trees. (Slipper snow) Despite the challenges, the reward at the top was well worth it. It was a beautiful, secluded lake. Some of us tried a little fishing, while the girls jumped into the freezing cold water for a swim. The water was so "pristine" that my hair felt conditioned afterward. It was magnificent, the water felt untouched and almost holy! This past summer, we hiked it again for the 4th of July, and it was so much easier because I had lost 20 pounds, haha! I'd say the hike is about 13 minutes up, around 2 miles round trip, and great for all ages. Just make sure you're in decent shape and don't have any serious health concerns. When I was 20 pounds heavier, the hike felt like a 10/10 in difficulty. Now, it's more like a 3/10, a total breeze!

    When you arrive, you see a bunch of dead tree and the waterline really low. Your first impression…read moreis "huh. But as you walk around the lake, you're surrounded by beautiful lush green pines. Small quaint bridges over stream beds. The wind in the trees with a beautiful view of the lake and its surroundings. It's a very easy straight walk. Highly recommend

    Photos
    Horseshoe Lake
    Horseshoe Lake - Lots of history here

    Lots of history here

    Horseshoe Lake

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    Ruby Lake - Backpacked to Ruby Lake, 3 days and 2 nights of peace and quiet

    Ruby Lake

    5.0(4 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    Breathtaking I…read morewent on a 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip to Ruby Lake located in the John Muir Wilderness. No permit required for day-hiking but you do need a permit to camp. The Forest Service reserves 60 percent of permits for advanced reservations and the other 40 percent are available to walk-ins 24 hours before the day of adventure. Trip Details: 3 days, 2 nights Distance from Venice, CA to Mosquito Flats Trailhead: 302 miles Money spent on gas: $128.62 Time of Year: August Weather: 80's during the day, and 30's at night Permit: no permit for day hiking but a permit is required to camp Elevation gain : 908 feet Distance to Ruby Lake from Trailhead: 2.1 miles Dogs: Dogs are allowed Water Temperature: 39 degrees Day 1: We parked in the parking lot at the beginning of the Mosquito Flats Trailhead at the end of Rock Creek Road. We started our hike around 1:00pm and arrived at Ruby lake at 3:30p. When we got to camp, we setup our tents, jumped in the water and then prepared dinner. The weather during the day was in the 80's with clear skies and a nice breeze. The temperature at night was in the high 30's low 40's with very little wind. The night was bright because of the full moon, very minimal wind noise. Day 2: Hiked to Mono Pass and hungout at summit lake before heading back to camp. Weather was also in the 80's during the day and high 30's/ low 40's at night, very little wind. Day 3: The morning before hiking out was very windy and cold in the morning, we hiked out at 9:30 am.

    As the other guys wrote: amazing. A great hike with minimal people contact. I hiked up on Sept 3…read moreand there was still lots of snow leftover from last year. I kept going past Ruby Lake to a second, smaller lake. From there one has easy access to the back country. The parking was a little ugly at the trail head: the masses tend to hike to a larger lake on the valley floor. After this hike and on your way back to Mammoth stop off at one of the hot springs near the airport for a soak. This is what I did and my muscles were very grateful.

    Photos
    Ruby Lake - View of Ruby Lake on our way up Mono Pass

    View of Ruby Lake on our way up Mono Pass

    Ruby Lake - Looking down at Ruby lake from the second, higher lake.

    Looking down at Ruby lake from the second, higher lake.

    Ruby Lake - View of little lakes valley on our way to Ruby lake

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    View of little lakes valley on our way to Ruby lake

    Duck Pass Trailhead - hiking - Updated May 2026

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