Hiking Convict Lake Loop in the Winter (Mammoth Lakes, CA) - Trip Report
Convict Lake should be on everyone’s list who is visiting Mono County, because you can either enjoy it as a quick scenic stop and snap a few gorgeous photos or you can see all sides of the lake by hiking the loop any time of the year. Something unique about Convict Lake is the fact that you can access it all year round, whereas many scenic areas/hiking trailheads in the Sierra Nevada mountain range become inaccessible due to snow.
Hiking Information
Location: Mono County - near Mammoth Lakes, California
Trailhead & Parking: Google Maps
Date Hiked: January 20, 2020
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 291 ft
Distance Roundtrip: 2.5 miles
Nearest Restrooms: Near the Marina
Fees: An overnight permit is required for any backpacking trip in the Inyo National Forest, which has a fee on recreation.gov. Day hiking this area does not require a permit and has no fees.
ID# on Recreation.gov: JM04
Season Accessibility: All year round
Trail Tip: Each season here brings a completely different perspective on the lake, fall being my favorite.
The Drive/Parking
It was the late afternoon on a Monday when I started the hike at trailhead #1. Keep in mind, if you are planning to hike Convict Lake in the winter, the roads are often icy which requires 4WD/AWD or chains for 2WD vehicles. Be sure to check conditions on CalTrans before heading out. Parking can be a bit more limited in the winter depending on how much snow is still on the road, I parked next to the bathrooms, but most cars were parked by the Mariana (which is closer to trailhead #2).
The Hike
The trail takes you around the whole lake, so you’ll get outstanding views of the lake from all angles. It’s not your usual hike where you’re trying to reach one point or outlook with an outstanding view, instead this hike has remarkable sights the whole way.
Lakeside views on the trail - a few minutes in
As you continue along the side of the lake, you will encounter a few narrow sections of the trail, I recommend taking it slow through there. Depending on the conditions, the trail could slide out if there’s too much fresh snow or like what I encountered, the trail was well packed, but icy. Hiking poles, micro-spikes, or anything that could provide you with extra traction are highly recommended in the winter.
This part of the trail takes you to the shoreline of the lake
One narrow section of the hike, icy conditions
Once you’ve completed one side of the lake, you will reach the backside of the lake. You will need to cross a few creeks, most of them are under a well maintained walk way, while the others require you to use the available logs/rocks to cross.
You will also find the trail for Mildred Lake, which will add an additional 4.5 miles (one-way). It’s on my to-do for summer 2020, so I will post the trip report to that hike here once I complete it.
The last section featured other side of the lake which provided more stunning and unique views of the surrounding peaks. The last bit of this hike was done after the sun had set and the temperatures dropped quite a bit. Be sure to bring extra layers and gloves if you plan on coming before sunrise or after sunset. Happy Trails!
VIDEO OF MY ADVENTURE
Additional Trail Photos
Here are some more photos of this hike, but throughout different times of the year so you can reference the unique looks of this hike in different seasons
PIN THIS for later!
Thanks for reading my latest adventure!
Tiare Kirkland
Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!