Eastern Sierra 10-Day Loop Map
One base town, ten days of High Sierra, from Mammoth Lakes.
10-day Eastern Sierra itinerary based in Mammoth Lakes: a 3-day Minaret Lake backpacking trip in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, then Devils Postpile, Rainbow Falls, Mono Lake tufa towers, the June Lake Loop, Convict Lake, and the Mammoth Crest, all from one base town.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family’s trip.
27 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Minaret Lake · Devils Postpile · Mono Lake · June Lake · California
5 of the stops on these 10 days.
Plan and book your 10 days in Eastern Sierra, one step at a time
How 10 days in Eastern Sierra split up
This 10-day Eastern Sierra itinerary uses Mammoth Lakes (elevation 7,880 ft) as a single base for the whole trip, so you unpack once and minimize driving. The centerpiece is a 3-day backpacking trip to Minaret Lake below the Minarets, bracketed by relaxed day trips to the region's iconic landmarks.
Day 1: Arrive in Mammoth Lakes & Town Prep
2 stops · Day one
Day 2: Backpack: Reds Meadow to Minaret Lake · 7.5 miles
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Backpack: Minaret Lake Layover · 3 miles
2 stops · Day three
Day 4: Backpack: Minaret Lake to Reds Meadow · 7.5 miles
3 stops · Day four
Day 5: Devils Postpile & Rainbow Falls · 5 miles RT
3 stops · Day five
Day 6: Mono Lake Tufa Towers · 1.5 miles RT
3 stops · Day six
Day 7: June Lake Loop & Parker Lake · 2–5 miles
3 stops · Day seven
Day 8: Convict Lake & Laurel Lakes · 2.5–8 miles
3 stops · Day eight
Day 9: Mammoth Gondola & Mammoth Crest · 4–7 miles
3 stops · Day nine
Day 10: Departure from Mammoth Lakes
2 stops · Day ten
Arrive in Mammoth Lakes & Town Prep
Arrive in Mammoth Lakes, check into the lodging that will be your base for all nine nights, and use the afternoon to finalize supplies and permits. The town (elevation 7,880 ft) has full-service gear shops, groceries, and bear-canister rentals, so this is the day to sort out everything for the backpacking leg.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Check into Mammoth Lakes
Base for 9 nights · elevation 7,880 ft · lodgeArrive in Mammoth Lakes, a vibrant mountain town at 7,880 ft, and check into the lodging that will be your base for the entire trip. Unpacking once here means less driving on the day trips and an easy return after the backpacking leg.
moonjazz from San DIeg / CC BY-SA 2.0Wilderness permit & gear checkInyo National Forest · bear-canister rental · activityUse the afternoon to pick up last-minute supplies, groceries, and fuel, confirm your Inyo National Forest wilderness permit, and rent a bear canister if you don't own one. Gear shops and the ranger station in town cover everything you need for Minaret Lake.
Backpack: Reds Meadow to Minaret Lake · 7.5 miles
Ride the mandatory shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center down into the Reds Meadow Valley, then start your climb into the wilderness. The trail follows the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River before switchbacking steeply up toward Minaret Lake, about 7.5 miles and 2,400 ft of gain to a basin at roughly 9,800 ft.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Shuttle to Reds MeadowMandatory in peak season · ~20 min · DriveRide the mandatory shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center down into the Reds Meadow Valley. Private vehicles are barred from Reds Meadow Road between 7 AM and 7 PM in peak season, so the shuttle is the way in.
- Frank Kovalchek from A / CC BY 2.0Hike to Minaret Lake
7.5 mi · 2,400 ft gain · strenuous · HikeClimb from Reds Meadow into the wilderness, following the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin before switchbacking steeply up to Minaret Lake at about 9,800 ft. The Minarets tower over the basin, and the final miles earn every foot of gain.
AdilAru / CC BY-SA 3.0Camp at Minaret LakeWilderness site · bear canister required · lodgeSet up camp at least 200 ft from water and trails, and stow all food in your bear canister. Filter your water, expect a cold night at elevation, and be ready for an afternoon thunderstorm in midsummer.
Backpack: Minaret Lake Layover · 3 miles
Spend a layover day exploring the Minaret Lake basin. Acclimatize, fish, and take a short day hike up to the smaller alpine tarns above the lake for even more dramatic angles on the Minarets. Carrying a light daypack means you can wander without your full load.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Don Graham from Redlan / CC BY-SA 2.0Day hike to the upper tarns
2–3 mi RT · 500–800 ft gain · moderate · HikeSpend a layover day exploring the Minaret Lake basin with just a daypack. A short climb to the smaller tarns above the lake opens up even more dramatic angles on the Minarets, and the light mileage helps you acclimatize.
Dcrjsr (talk · contrib / CC BY 3.0Second night at Minaret LakeWilderness camping · exceptional stargazing · lodgeEnjoy a second night under the stars at Minaret Lake. This buffer day is insurance against weather or fatigue and one of the best nights for stargazing on the trip, with almost no light pollution.
Backpack: Minaret Lake to Reds Meadow · 7.5 miles
Break camp and descend the same trail back to the Reds Meadow Valley, about 7.5 miles and 2,400 ft of loss. The downhill goes quickly, but watch for loose rock on the steeper switchbacks and use trekking poles to save your knees.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Descend to Reds Meadow7.5 mi · 2,400 ft loss · trekking poles help · HikeBreak camp and descend the same trail back to the Reds Meadow Valley, about 7.5 miles and 2,400 ft of loss. The downhill goes fast, but watch for loose rock on the switchbacks and save your knees with trekking poles.
Shuttle back to Mammoth Lakes~20 min · last departures ~7 PM · DriveCatch the shuttle from Reds Meadow back up to Mammoth Lakes, then celebrate the wilderness trek with a hot shower, laundry, and a real meal. Confirm the last departure time before you start down the trail.
Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Overnight in Mammoth LakesReturn to base · dinner in town · lodgeDrive the 15 minutes back to Mammoth Lakes after your day at Convict Lake, and enjoy dinner in town.
Devils Postpile & Rainbow Falls · 5 miles RT
After the backpacking leg, take an easier day exploring Devils Postpile National Monument. Ride the shuttle back into Reds Meadow and walk the short trail to the base of the columns, a striking wall of columnar basalt formed by a lava flow roughly 100,000 years ago. Climb the spur to the top for the tiled, honeycomb view.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Shuttle to Devils Postpile~20 min · National Monument entry · DriveRide the shuttle back into Reds Meadow, this time to the Devils Postpile stop. An America the Beautiful pass covers the monument entrance; you still pay the separate shuttle fee.
- James St. John / CC BY 2.0Devils Postpile columns
0.8 mi RT · columnar basalt · ViewpointA short, easy walk leads to the base of Devils Postpile, a striking wall of columnar basalt formed by a lava flow roughly 100,000 years ago. Climb the spur to the top for the tiled, honeycomb view of the column tops.
The High Fin Sperm Wha / CC BY-SA 3.0Hike to Rainbow Falls2.5 mi one-way · 101-ft waterfall · HikeContinue about 2.5 miles downstream to Rainbow Falls, a 101-ft drop on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin that throws rainbows into its mist on sunny afternoons. A shuttle stop near the falls saves you the uphill return.
Mono Lake Tufa Towers · 1.5 miles RT
Drive north on scenic Highway 395 to the Mono Lake South Tufa area, a globally significant saline lake nearly a million years old. The flat, 1.5-mile interpretive loop winds among otherworldly tufa towers, limestone spires that grew underwater and now stand exposed along the shoreline.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Richard E. Ellis (talk / CC BY 3.0Drive to Mono Lake South Tufa
~30 min north on Highway 395 · DriveDrive north on scenic Highway 395 to the Mono Lake South Tufa area, a globally significant saline lake nearly a million years old. The Mono Basin Visitor Center in Lee Vining is worth a stop on the way.
King of Hearts / CC BY-SA 3.0South Tufa loop trail1.5 mi loop · flat · interpretive · HikeWalk the flat, 1.5-mile interpretive loop among the otherworldly tufa towers, limestone spires that grew underwater and now stand exposed along the shore. The light is best at sunrise and sunset, and the lake hosts millions of migratory birds.
- Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Overnight in Mammoth Lakes
Return to base · dinner in town · lodgeDrive the 15 minutes back to Mammoth Lakes after your day at Convict Lake, and enjoy dinner in town.
June Lake Loop & Parker Lake · 2–5 miles
Drive the picturesque June Lake Loop (Highway 158), a 16-mile ribbon past four alpine lakes: June, Gull, Silver, and Grant. It's famous for aspen color in late September and popular for fishing, boating, and photography all summer.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Don Graham from Redlan / CC BY-SA 2.0Drive the June Lake Loop
Highway 158 · 16 mi · four lakes · DriveDrive the picturesque June Lake Loop (Highway 158), a 16-mile ribbon past four alpine lakes: June, Gull, Silver, and Grant. It is famous for aspen color in late September and popular for fishing, boating, and photography all summer.
Mark Gunn from Novato, / CC BY 2.0Parker Lake Trail3.6 mi RT · ~700 ft gain · moderate · HikeHike the moderate trail to Parker Lake, a jewel-blue tarn tucked beneath the Sierra crest, about 3.6 miles round trip. The trailhead is up a dirt road off the loop, and the payoff is a quiet lake with big Ritter Range views.
Don Graham from Redlan / CC BY-SA 2.0Paddle June LakeKayak or SUP rentals · calm water · activityIf time allows, rent a kayak or paddleboard on June Lake for a relaxing afternoon on calm, beginner-friendly water, ringed by mountains. Rentals are available at the June Lake marina.
Convict Lake & Laurel Lakes · 2.5–8 miles
Drive 15 minutes south to Convict Lake, a stunning glacial lake framed by dramatic peaks and named for an 1871 shootout with escaped convicts. The easy 2.5-mile shoreline loop is family-friendly and endlessly photogenic, especially in morning light.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Frank Kovalchek from A / CC BY 2.0Convict Lake loop
2.5 mi loop · easy · family-friendly · HikeDrive 15 minutes south to Convict Lake, a stunning glacial lake framed by dramatic peaks and named for an 1871 shootout with escaped convicts. The easy 2.5-mile shoreline loop is family-friendly and endlessly photogenic in morning light.
Jane S. Richardson (ta / CC BY 3.0Laurel Lakes Trail (optional)8 mi RT · 2,000 ft gain · strenuous · HikeFor a bigger day, add the strenuous climb toward Laurel Lakes, roughly 8 miles round trip and 2,000 ft of gain, for panoramic views over the Convict basin. The upper road is rough and best for high-clearance vehicles, so most hikers walk it.
- Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Overnight in Mammoth Lakes
Return to base · dinner in town · lodgeDrive the 15 minutes back to Mammoth Lakes after your day at Convict Lake, and enjoy dinner in town.
Mammoth Gondola & Mammoth Crest · 4–7 miles
Ride the scenic gondola from the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge to the 11,053-ft summit for a 360-degree panorama of the Eastern Sierra, with an interpretive center and restaurant at the top. This is the trip's high point without the climb.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Scenic gondola to the summit11,053-ft summit · panoramic views · activityRide the scenic gondola from the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge to the 11,053-ft summit for a 360-degree panorama of the Eastern Sierra, with an interpretive center and restaurant at the top. It is the trip's high point without the climb.
Mammoth Crest Trail4–7 mi RT · above 10,000 ft · strenuous · HikeHike a section of the exposed Mammoth Crest, 4 to 7 miles round trip, with sweeping views into the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Ritter Range, and the Owens Valley. The trail is fully exposed above 10,000 ft, so carry sun protection, layers, and water.
Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Last night in Mammoth LakesCelebratory dinner in town · lodgeEnjoy your final evening in Mammoth Lakes with a celebratory dinner, reflecting on ten days of High Sierra backpacking, waterfalls, tufa towers, and alpine lakes.
Departure from Mammoth Lakes
Enjoy a final Eastern Sierra breakfast or an easy morning walk before beginning the drive home. If you're heading north, a detour to the Bodie ghost town rewards the miles; heading south, the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine make a spectacular last stop under Mount Whitney.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Depart Mammoth LakesMorning departure · scenic 395 drive · DriveEnjoy a final breakfast or easy morning walk before beginning the drive home. Fuel up in town, as gas is sparse on stretches of Highway 395. It is about 3 hours to Reno-Tahoe (RNO) and 5 to 6 hours to Los Angeles.
- Don Graham from Redlan / CC BY-SA 2.0Optional Highway 395 detour
Bodie north · Alabama Hills south · ViewpointIf you have time, break up the drive with a classic Eastern Sierra stop: the Bodie ghost town if you head north, or the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, under Mount Whitney, if you head south.
Book the 9 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Eastern Sierra
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Eastern Sierra
Essential wilderness rules & planning.
Wilderness permits are competitive
Overnight permits are required for all backpacking in the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness (Inyo National Forest) and are quota-controlled. Reservations open on Recreation.gov roughly six months ahead, so a July trip means booking in January. Cost is about $6 per person plus a small reservation fee; check current rates.
Bear canisters are mandatory
Bear-resistant canisters are required for every overnight stay in these wildernesses, and rangers check for compliance. You can rent one in Mammoth Lakes. Store all food and scented items inside, and never leave it near your tent.
Devils Postpile is shuttle-access
In peak season (mid-June to early September) private vehicles are barred from Reds Meadow Road between 7 AM and 7 PM. Ride the mandatory shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center; buy tickets there or online. An America the Beautiful pass covers the monument entrance.
Go July through September
July and August clear the high passes of snow and bring wildflowers, warm days, cool nights, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. September means cooler temperatures, thinner crowds, and aspen color. Early October is possible but risks early snow and shuttle closures.
Acclimatize and treat water
Most trailheads sit above 7,000 ft and the crest tops 10,000 ft, so ascend gradually and watch for altitude sickness. Filter or treat all water from natural sources, and pack out or properly bury human waste 200 ft from water, trails, and camp.
Getting there needs a car
Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) has limited flights; most visitors fly into Reno-Tahoe (RNO) and drive about 3 hours, or drive from Los Angeles (5–6 hours) or San Francisco (6–7 hours). A car is essential for the day trips along Highway 395.
Lock permit dates before booking lodging
Summer-weekend quota slots on Recreation.gov can vanish within minutes of the six-month release, so secure your wilderness permit dates first, then book your Mammoth Lakes condo around them. Many summer rentals are non-refundable, so reserving the permit first protects your deposit, and a booking with flexible cancellation adds a safety net if your dates shift.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Everything you'll actually want to know before a Eastern Sierra trip.
The backpacking leg to Minaret Lake is strenuous: about 7.5 miles and over 2,400 ft of gain at altitude, from a trailhead around 7,500 ft to a lake above 9,800 ft. Prior backpacking experience and good fitness are essential, and the layover day helps you acclimatize.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 9 nights, sites held for you
- Any permits secured before you fly
- Gear rented locally and waiting at the site
- The route pinned to your phone before you leave
- Everything in Camped
- Rooms booked for every night, one base where the route allows
- Dinner reservations on the nights that need them
- A rain-day plan written before you go
- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide for the trip
- Airport pickup and every drive handled
- All the gear rented and waiting, so you pack clothes and nothing else
- Weather turns and they rewrite the day while you are still at breakfast
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Builds every custom itinerary herself and leads guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests. Based in Seattle.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
What other travelers are saying
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One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family's trip.