In the summer, from 7am-7pm the road to the trail head is inaccessible to cars. For the next 2.5 miles, the trail traverses open areas with low, deep green bushes, … We stayed for more than a week with my wife's brother Todd. After Shadow Lake, you will keep going. Camp overnight at Ediza Lake. The trail skirts the north shore of this lake to the upper end of Shadow Lake (8750 – 4). While hiking in, a hailstorm struck just as the hikers reached Shadow Lake. It was a blast hiking "her" up there in my backpack. We camped at the lake and had a wonderful time!! The jagged spires of the Minarets and two 14ers, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, form the dramatic backdrop for Ediza Lake, one of the most stunning lakes in the Ritter Range. Jul 8, 2020 - Backpacking to Ediza Lake and beyond to Iceburg Lake makes for a stunning adventure! Iceberg Lake has a much different feel from Ediza. When we arrived at Ediza Lake it was about 3:00pm, and there were many tents visible along the opposite shoreline. Before Garnet Lake, the trail is quite exposed. The first section of the hike is flat following along a soft, sandy path, but offers little shade. We were glad that we didn’t dismiss it due to its popularity, as it really is stunning. “I hiked the trail in May 2016. Shadow & Ediza Lakes Trail - 13 mi ediza_lake-post.jpg While the lakes at the Shadow and Ediza Lakes Trail in Mammoth offer peaceful views, the real stunner on this 13 mile out-and-back trail is the river which runs alongside the trail. The trail dead ends into the river. oh, and i enjoyed the pictures!! This hike visits this alpine jewel, passing beautiful Shadow Lake and a series of pretty waterfalls on Shadow Creek along the way. Kay, Laura and Mike dayhiked from their camp to Lake Ediza, then to Iceberg Lake, and then struggled up the steep knapsack trail to Cecile Lake, nestled high amidst the Minarets. Trail to Lake Ediza. Ediza Lake and Thousand Island Lake I was lucky enough to score permits out of Shadow Lake Trail heading over to Ediza Lake for the first weekend in June. Ediza sure is beautiful! Backpacking to Lake Ediza In The High Sierra Sierra Nevada Backpack (Shadow Lake Trail to Minaret Creek Trail) Around the first week of September of 2007 I went to the Mammoth Lakes area of the Easter Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The trail between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake is some of the most scenic, passing through beautiful alpine meadows and a meandering Shadow Creek. Our Location. I highly recommend doing a morning hike to Iceberg Lake from here (only two miles roundtrip) - the trail, the perfectly calm and clear lake, and the peaks above it are all worth the short hike. After the splendid sunrise, we retreated back to our camp, had some breakfast, and then packed up stuff for a dayhike up to Iceberg Lake. Friday morning we will meet at Mammoth mountain main lodge at 7:30 to purchase our shuttle bus tickets for the ride to Agnew Meadows trail … At the High-trail/River-trail junction we opt for the shorter, easier River trail. Ediza Lake as seen down below in the lower right of this picture from my vantage point, sits at 9,268ft. We started out by taking the PCT South/River/Shadow Lake trail which is just opposite the pit toilets and bear boxes. Lake Ediza Trail, 1989 (#2) The following days featured cloudless blue skies. Trail to Lake Ediza packer 2013-04-15T17:27:06+00:00. This trail also leads to where potential climbers of Mt Ritter make base-camp. The accent is not too bad since there are lots of switchbacks. Find out why this trail is a must, how to prepare and what to expect! No camping at Shadow Lake and some areas along Shadow Creek and Ediza Lake. The dusty trail skirts by Olaine Lake on your left and then levels off as it pass thru Aspens and Sagebrush until it arrives at a bridged crossing for the San Joaquin River at 2.5 miles from the trailhead. In addition, there is a long descent on a section of trail comprised almost entirely of scree. Get up early for the sunrise reflection of the Minarets, all gold against still water, before returning to Agnew Meadows via the Shadow Creek and River Trails. Ansel Adams Wilderness is located in Mammoth Lakes, California. The trail follows Shadow Creek until climbing into a spectacular alpine basin walled in by the massive rock outcrops of the Minarets, Mt Ritter and Banner Peak. Backpacking Ediza Lake Agnew Meadows. In the Junction we took a left turn to head up to Thousand Island Lake (lots of ups and downs to look out for). *FRIDAY ITINERARY * AGNEW MEADOWS TO EDIZA LAKE VIA SHADOW LAKE TRAIL, 13 MILES ,1774 FT. GAIN/ LOSS. The main climbing is now behind us. We continued up Shadow Creek Trail passing several meadows with fine views of the Minarets and climbed up some short switch backs until we reached Lake Ediza (9300 – 6.2). At 0.75 miles in, you’ll reach the boundary for the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It can get very hot very quick. The trail up to Iceberg is a short stretch that ascends about 500 feet. From here, there are ups and downs, but a total of only about 500 feet of climbing. Ediza Lake to JMT junction was the easiest part of the trail that day as it was mostly descending. Ediza Lake Spur is a 1,815 m black diamond singletrack alpine trail located near Mammoth Lakes California. There are great views of Ediza present for almost the entire stretch. As the trail nears the junction with Ediza Lake, the rivers and trees will again appear to … About 300-400 yards before you reach Lake Ediza there's a foot bridge to cross Shadow Creek. Hikers can go north or south on the John Muir Trail or continue up Shadow Creek to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes. When you’re about a quarter mile from the lake, the trail gets a little confusing. You’re about 3 miles from Ediza Lake. You can continue north to Garnet Lake from here, or take a 2-mile detour to Ediza Lake by continuing west. Walk around the south, then east shore of the lake to find camping spots. Mar 8, 2019 - Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is a strenuous 13 miles round trip hike with 1,774 feet of elevation gain. The trail was beautiful the whole way and opens up to a stunning alpine lake and granite peaks surrounding it. You'll find the trailhead on the west side of Ediza Lake (look for the Iceberg Lake sign). Very early Saturday morning I left San Francisco and drove through Yosemite to the eastern side of the Sierras. June 1, 2015 “Gorgeous hike. Ediza Lake Hiking Detail, hiking trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. The winter of 2005-2006 had a fair amount of snow, and we ended up having to kick in some steps to keep from slipping. The bottom of Ediza Lake Falls can be seen up close by following a trail along the southern shore of the lake. ... (western) side of Lake Ediza, north of the main inlet stream. I wore myself out to get there this past weekend, with 500 miles of driving and 14 miles of hiking. The trail skirts the north shore of this lake to the upper end of Shadow Lake (8750 – 4). The upper Nydiver Lakes as seen in the upper left and center of this picture sit roughly around 10,100ft. The views going up are great since a fire a few years back cleared out some of the trees, and the lake at the top is a classic small mountain lake.” Tim, Washington, DC. Although Ediza Lake is a popular hiking trail in the Mammoth area, it is also one that you really should see. WoW! No campfires are permitted. For Climbing Mt Ritter, I would recommend the Shadow Lake Trail to Ediza Lake. First sunlight on the Minarets behind Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The trail turns upward (as seen in the photo to the right) once again before reaching beautiful Ediza Lake. Down, down we go, under the trees, on the dusty (very dusty) trail. On the way you would pass by Garnet Lake, Ruby Lake, and Emerald Lake each of which has stunning views. The hiking at this juncture is peaceful, undulating, and simply epic. Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake, and Iceberg Lake Loop - Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA Tagged: backpacking , trip report , CA , Sierras , lakes , Eastern Sierra , NorCal , Mammoth Newer Post Backpacking Fontanillis Lake to Dicks Peak — Desolation Wilderness, CA Once you enter Mammoth Lakes it is another 45 minutes to Red’s Meadow Resort on a winding road. Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is one of the prettest hikes I’ve done by Mammoth Lakes, California. Keep em comin'-Brent January 28, 2009 at 1:38 AM My grandmother past away a few years back and it was in her will that she wanted her ashes spread at lake ediza. The trail to Lake Ediza is frequently traveled and is usually completed as an out-and-back day hike. Fed from Lake Ediza and glacier melt the stream always flows well and creates numerous picturesque settings along the way - have your camera read! It is a much more direct approach for Climbing Mt Ritter. Taking the River Trail to Thousand Island Lake is the fastest way to get there, but it is more difficult to climb Mt Ritter from Thousand Island Lake. Then, follow the trail up Shadow Creek until you reach the junction with the Ediza Lake Trail, and continue east. Lake Ediza Trail, 1989 (#1) In 1989 Mike returned to hike the Lake Ediza trail with Kay, his sister-in-law, and her friend Laura. We circled around the lake and worked our way up a stream towards the valley at the base of Ritter. My 2nd-lowest handle view atop of Volcanic Ridge is around 11,200ft. There are a surprising (to us at least) number of people about, going in both directions, particularly after we pass the junction with the trail that goes up to Shadow Lake and Lake Ediza. From there, we hoped to be able to explore Iceberg Lake, then head over to Thousand Island Lake. In Aug of 2018 this footbridge was out. Mammoth Lakes is located about 45 minutes south of the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park. Lake Ediza is hidden in the back of the valley behind Shadow Lake. At the Shadow Creek Trail, take the 1.6-mile detour west to a campsite by Ediza Lake. Previous hikers have left cairns and directionals to the correct trail. The Shadow Trail climbs past Shadow Lake to connect with the John Muir Trail. We continued up Shadow Creek Trail passing several meadows with fine views of the Minarets and climbed up some short switch backs until we reached Lake Ediza (9300 – 6.2). 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