Explore beautiful hiking trails and wilderness camping in Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness, and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
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Sagehen Summit: Eastern Sierra’s Hidden Gem for Fall Colors (2025 Update)
Sagehen Summit is peaking with golden aspens right now! See fall colors near Mono Lake before they fade — go early October for peak colors
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Treasure Lakes Hike in Bishop, California
Hike to Treasure Lakes near Bishop, CA for alpine views, granite peaks, and crystal-clear waters in the John Muir Wilderness. This hike is just 6 miles out and back and you’re sure to get away from the crowds.
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Ultimate Mount Whitney Hiking Guide: Routes, Permits & Tips from My Experiences
Plan your Mount Whitney hike with this complete guide: routes, permit tips, day vs backpack options, and my personal trip experiences.
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Hot Creek Geologic Site: How To Visit This Hidden Gem Near Mammoth Lakes CA
Hot Creek CA is an easy must-see on your next Mammoth Lakes road trip—just off Hwy 395! See steaming hot springs with stunning Eastern Sierra views.
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Backpacking in California: How to book Eastern Sierra Permits
Planning a backpacking trip to the Eastern Sierra? Learn how to reserve wilderness permits for California’s Inyo National Forest
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Rainbow Falls Trail from Devils Postpile in Mammoth Lakes
The hike to Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes CA is an easy one for visitors of all levels. Start from Devils Postpile to see basalt columns too.
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Devils Postpile National Monument: Everything You Need to Know
Devils Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes, CA is a unique geological formation of towering basalt columns. Easy summer hike for all visitors.
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Little Lakes Valley Trail to Gem Lakes near Mammoth Lakes
Little Lakes Valley trail in Rock Creek Canyon is one of the best beginner-friendly hikes in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Hike to 6+ lakes including the emerald Gem Lakes and turquoise Treasure Lakes
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Where to See Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra
Fall colors peak in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in October. Here’s your guide to seeing yellow and orange leaves in Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Bridgeport, and more.
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Inyo Craters Trail: Easy Hike in Mammoth Lakes, California
Inyo Craters is a short and easy hike located in Mammoth Lakes, CA. It’s only 0.4 mi which makes it a good quick stop for tourists and hikers
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Lamarck Lake Hike in Bishop
The trail to Lower Lamarck Lake in Bishop is short and steep, gaining 1,300 ft in just under 2 miles. This hike to a beautiful alpine lake is worth it if you’re looking for a good workout near Bishop before leaving the Eastern Sierra Mountains.
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Best Mammoth Lakes Camping Guide
Camping in Mammoth Lakes, CA? This guide will help you find the best sites from standard car camping in your tent to RV sites to free camping
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How to Get Mt. Whitney Permits 2025 and Tips
A permit is required all year to day hike and backpack Mount Whitney, but summertime uses a lotto system which is open for the month of February. Quota season is from May 1 – Nov 1. Read for tips from a hiker who’s won a few permits.
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Highway 395 Road trip Must-Stops from LA to Mammoth Lakes
The ultimate guide to your Eastern Sierra roadtrip. Must-stop eats, sights, cheap gas, and free camping along the 395 hwy in California
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Quick Guide to Hiking and Climbing California’s 14ers
List of California 14ers ranked by difficulty. A fourteener is a mountain with a summit elevation of at least 14,000 ft. There are 15 peaks in California that rise above 14k ft, but only 12 of them are considered true 14ers due to the peak prominence.
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Alpine Lakes in the Eastern Sierra to Hike This Summer
Ready to cool down in the California heat this summer? The Eastern Sierra mountains has a ton of alpine lakes, some more easily accessible than others – here are some of my favorite, beautiful turquoise, scenic alpine lakes.
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Climb Mount Baldwin 12,624 ft in the Eastern Sierra
Mount Baldwin 12,624 ft is a moderate class two climb in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. It starts at Convict Lake and offers beautiful views of the colorful mountains near Mammoth Lakes.
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Climb the Mountaineers Route on Mount Whitney 14,505 ft
Mount Whitney is the highest peak of the contiguous US sitting at 14,505 ft. The Mountaineers Route makes for a unique experience, different from the standard hiking trail, and Spring is a great time to climb the mountaineers route! Read on for more info and learn more on the gear you need for a better experience.
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2021 in Review: The Year of Climbing
This past year has been a thrilling ride full of anxiety. On one hand, I’ve never lived more. On the other hand, I’ve never been so stressed living. Every time I headed out into the mountains, I felt like I was losing years of my life with all the stress and anxiety, but also gaining […]
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Hiking Split Mountain in the Eastern Sierra 14,058 ft
Split Mountain is one of California’s easier 14er, but it’s a long slog. It can be done as a day hike or an overnight trip – read more about backpacking to Red Lake and Split Mountain 14,058 ft.
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Backpacking Minaret Lake Loop & Climb Volcanic Ridge in Mammoth
The Minaret Lake Loop is one of the most popular and picturesque hikes in Mammoth Lakes CA. There are many options to day hike or overnight camp in Ansel Adams Wilderness – learn about climbing the Volcanic Ridge (11,506 ft) as well to get an eye-level view of the Minarets!
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Hike Big Pine Lakes to all Seven Lakes and Climb Cloudripper
Cloudripper is the 58th tallest peak in California and the tallest in the Inconsolable Range of the Eastern Sierra Mountains. It can be easiest accessed from Big Pine Lakes through a class two scramble at the end of seventh lake. Read on to hike through the glacial lakes and end up at a 13er!
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Matterhorn Peak: My First Time Winter Mountaineering and Snow Camping
Matterhorn Peak is the highest summit of the Sawtooth Range in the CA Sierra Nevada. Climbing the East Couloir as my first winter mountaineering experience was a good choice for a beginner – read on for my experience on my first backcountry snow camping and climbing with a fear of heights.
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Hike Mammoth Crest to Deer Lakes and Duck Lake
Hike 16 miles in Mammoth Lake’s beautiful backcountry and see 17 alpine lakes including the secluded Deer Lakes and the popular Duck Lake.
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Parker Lake Trail: Vibrant Lake Hike near Mammoth Lakes CA
Parker Lake gets overlooked in the Sierra Mountains, but this short and easy hike near June Lake Loop needs to be on your summit hike list.
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White Mountain Peak: California’s Easiest 14er and 3rd Highest Peak
White Mountain Peak is California’s 3rd tallest peak and is considered to be California’s easiest 14er to hike. After hiking and climbing all CA 14ers, I’d have to agree. HIKE TO: White Mountain PeakTRAIL: White Mountain Trail/ RoadMILES: 14.8 miles out and backTIME: 7:11 hrs (6:16 hrs of moving time)DATE I WENT: 6/27/20 DIFFICULTY: moderateELEVATION: […]
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Big Pine South Fork Creek, Hike to Finger Lake
Hike the less popular Big Pine South Fork trail to the turquoise glacial lake in the Palisades. The trail to Finger Lake is strenuous with a little scrambling.
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Convict Lake Loop: Easy Day Hike Near Mammoth Lakes
Convict Lake is a short and easy hiking loop located 15 minutes south of Mammoth Lakes, CA. It can be hiked year-round, even when no one is present. Just be prepared with the proper winter gear. HIKE TO: Convict Lake TRAIL: Convict Lake Trail MILES: 2.57 miles TIME: 1.25 hrs DATE I WENT: 2/01/20 DIFFICULTY: […]
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Intro to Packrafting: Why You Need a Packraft to Explore More on Your Backpacking Trips
July 15-20, 2019Author: Tiffany Lin | Photographer: Mina Lee + Tiffany’s iPhoneLocation: Lake TahoeBoat Model: Rogue LiteActivity: Packrafting If you know me, you’ll know I’m not much of a water person. I’m actually scared of the big, open water and can’t tolerate being in cold water very well. Two years ago, I went to a […]
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Backpacking Duck Pass Trail to Duck Lake in Mammoth Lakes
Duck Pass Trail is a moderate and popular hike in Mammoth Lakes of the Eastern Sierra Mountains. It can be done as a day hike or an overnight high to visit Barney Lake, Duck Lake, Pika Lake, and other alpine lakes.
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Kearsarge Pass: Solo Wilderness Trip
HIKE TO: Kearsarge Pass TRAILHEAD: Kearsarge Pass Trail MILES: 9.3 miles out and back TIME: 1 night (commonly done as a day hike) DATE I WENT: 8/17/18 – 8/18/18 DIFFICULTY: moderate ELEVATION: 11,760 ft ELEVATION GAIN: 2,595 ft PERMIT: no for day hikes, yes for overnight camping LOCATION: Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra Last August […]
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Is it Better to Day Hike or Backpack for Mt. Whitney?
Mount Whitney (14,505 ft) is the tallest mountain in the contiguous US (lower 48 states). It’s a long 22-mile out-and-back hike with about 6,000 ft of elevation gain. You can day hike it or overnight camp, but either way, you need a permit which can be obtained during the pre-season lotto or through last-minute permit […]
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Backpacking Thousand Island Lake Loop in Ansel Adams Wilderness
Ansel Adams WIlderness is one of the most beautiful parts of the Eastern Sierra, and Thousand Island Lake is one of the most popular hikes. Read to plan your 3 day trip out here
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Ultimate Guide to Big Pine Lakes Hike and Camp
Hike the popular Big Pine Lakes trail to see 3 glacial turquoise lakes in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. I call this the Patagonia of California.
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Mt. Whitney Hike Video
Video of our backpacking trip to Mount Whitney in August 2015! It’s a little rocky because it was our first time shooting with the GoPro, but thanks Duy! It includes footage from the Mobius Arch in Alabama Hills, as well as our journey on the Mount Whitney Trail, Lone Pine Lake, Trail Crest, Pinnacles, and of course […]
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Hiking Mount Whitney 14,505 ft. for the first time as a beginner backpacker
Two weeks ago [8.25.15] at 9 am, I summited Mt Whitney… and it was amazing!! How many people can say that? Well I’ve been told only 30% of hikers who attempt it will succeed in summiting. I’ve never even thought about doing this until early this year. I knew someone that went last year, and someone else […]
