Location: Mammoth Lakes, California
Distance: 1.25 Miles Out and Back Time: 1-2 Hours
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 350 Feet
Season: May-October
Foot Traffic: Moderate
Date Hiked: Sunday, October 27, 2019
Overview
Mcleod Lake is a fabulous day hike located in the Mammoth Lakes area. The short distance of just over 1 mile round trip makes it ideal for families and newer hikers. The trail begins at the end of Lake Mary Road at Horseshoe Lake and shares at trailhead with the Mammoth Pass Trail. While the trail is short, it does offer a great workout as it is rather steep. Once at the lake, Mammoth Crest sits high above, overlooking the beautiful, clear lake.
Trail Description and My Story
My wife and I had a great multi day trip to Mammoth and the surrounding areas. It was late October and Halloween was just a few days away. I was sad and knew that this would be our last trip to the area before winter kicked in and all the passes and hiking trails became impassable until the following May or June. We packed our gear up and stopped in Mammoth at the Vons in Mammoth before heading back home. My wife decided she wanted to grab a coffee so our last stop would be Starbucks, before reluctantly heading south on the 395.
As we sat in line at the Starbucks, something amazing happened. Unexpectedly, the first snow of the season began. I begged and pleaded with my wife to allow us to stay and to head home later in the day. She asked, what do you have in mind to do here in the meantime that won’t take too long? I had the perfect idea. I suggested driving towards Horseshoe Lake and doing one of the only hikes in the area that we had not ventured out onto. Mcleod Lake. This would be the perfect opportunity to spend some time in nature, while checking out a new hike. It wouldn’t be to hard to talk my wife into it either at the trail to Mcleod Lake was less than a mile and a half in total distance.
Horseshoe Lake Parking Area to Mcleod Lake
My wife didn’t seem as excited as me but smiled and said we could stay. We made the drive to Horseshoe Lake and immediately grabbed our packs and started off on the signed Mammoth Pass trail. It was freezing at this point and I couldn’t believe that it was actually snowing. Like I stated before, this hike is short but it is steep. The trail starts in a fire ravaged area at the front of Horseshoe Lake. We quickly entered into a peaceful, dense canopy of lodgepole pines. As the trail head barely begun, we reached a junction and continued left to stay on the Mcleod Lake Trail. As we continued brief views of Mammoth Crest would present themselves through the trees to our left.
I had a never ending smile on my face and although I was freezing, I was so content. The snow continued and I could tell that my wife was just happy to have made my day. I was sad thinking about having to leave once this hike was over but was trying to stay in the moment and be thankful that this opportunity just happened to have presented itself and have happened. As we talked and savored the moment, we passed another trail junction at just over .5 mile into the hike. We continued left as the trail to the right headed towards Mammoth Pass.
Reaching Mcleod Lake
From the junction with the Mammoth Pass Trail it was just a short minute or so walk to Mcleod Lake. We arrived along a large sandy shoreline. The snow was coming down fairly good and the scene had a magical feel to it. The lake was strikingly clear and Mammoth Crest offered a stunning backdrop to Mcleod Lake.
My wife and I walked the shoreline to the west and came upon the most well made wooden shelter that we had ever seen. It was truly impressive. We climbed inside to stay dry for a few minutes and were stunned by how spacious and dry it was.
We made our way back towards the front of the lake and sat in complete solitude as the only people out on the trail on this day. This turned into such a fabulous hike. I wouldn’t describe Mcleod Lake as a must visit or as one of the better hikes in the area, however, it stands out to me because of what it meant to me on this day and how it reminded me of how much I love this area and how hard it is for me to leave every time that I visit.
Getting to the Mcleod Lake Trailhead
4988 Lake Mary Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Notes, Questions and Thoughts
Is this a fee area?
- No, there is no fee to hike the Mcleod Lake Trail or to park at the trailhead.
Are dogs allowed on the Mcleod Lake Trail?
- Yes, dogs are allowed on the Mcleod Lake Trail and may be off leash in certain areas. Please pick up and properly dispose of all animal waste.
Are there restrooms at the trailhead?
- Yes, vault toilets are located in the parking area.
Please recreate responsibly. Respect hikers and all visitors and wildlife. Help make everyone’s experience better by keeping the nature experience as authentic as possible. Leave no trace and pack out everything that you pack in. Please remember that we are visitors and stewards of these special places. Help keep these places as wild as possible while not diminishing the outdoor experience of others.
