There’s a specific kind of hike that gets slept on in Mammoth Lakes — too short for serious hikers to brag about, but stunning enough that you’d be annoyed you almost skipped it and somehow tourists don’t know about it. McLeod Lake is that hike. Half a mile from the trailhead, 315 feet of gain, and you’re standing at one of the clearest, most turquoise alpine lakes in the entire basin.
It earns its place at the top of my Mammoth Lakes list every single time now when I’m looking for a quick hour outing to stretch my legs.
If you’re visiting Mammoth and only have a few hours — or you’re looking for something the whole group can do, including the family and friends non-hikers — this is the one.
Quick Hike Stats: Mcleod Lake Mammoth
HIKE TO: McLeod Lake
TRAIL: Mammoth Pass Trail / McLeod Lake Spur
TRAILHEAD: Horseshoe Lake Parking Lot
DISTANCE: 1.15 miles out and back (add ~0.8 miles to loop the lake)
TIME: 40 min
DIFFICULTY: Easy
ELEVATION: 9,299 ft
ELEVATION GAIN: 315 ft
DAY I WENT: 5/30/2026
PERMIT: No day use permit required
PARKING: Free, large paved lot at Horseshoe Lake
DOGS: Yes, on leash
FISHING: Yes, catch and release only
SWIMMING: Yes
LOCATION: Mammoth Lakes Basin in Eastern Sierra, CA
Trip Report and What to Expect
The trailhead is at the Horseshoe Lake parking lot at the end of Lake Mary Road — free, paved, and big enough that parking isn’t usually a stressor, even in summer.
The last time I was here to hike Horseshoe Lake in September 2025, I saw some hikers headed up the Mcleod Lake Trail and had never heard of this lake before. On my quick stop to Mammoth Lakes heading from a big road trip from CA to WA, I remembered this and wanted to check it out to get in some steps—I was pleasantly surprised I gave it a chance.
Before I even got on trail, I noticed something a little eerie: a stretch of dead, bleached trees around the lot and the first part of the path. This isn’t drought damage — it’s from CO2 seeping up from the ground near Mammoth Mountain, which sits on a relatively young volcano. It looks surreal, and once I started moving, the forest returned to normal pretty fast.
From the lot, follow the Mammoth Pass Trail west. The path is wide and sandy, and you’ll hit a junction quickly where signs point left to McLeod Lake and right toward Mammoth Pass and Reds Meadow. Go left. It’s a gentle and steady climb from there to the lake — 315 feet in half a mile, so not flat, but nothing that should stop most people.
The one thing worth flagging is the elevation. You’re starting at 9,000 feet, and if you drove up the same day from lower elevation, it will catch you off guard. I always tell people: go slower than you think you need to and drink more water than you think you need to. Altitude doesn’t care about your fitness level.
Mcleod Lake
The payoff is immediate. I came through the trees and there it was — this small, almost shockingly turquoise lake with Mammoth Crest rising straight up behind it. It genuinely doesn’t look like something at the end of a half-mile trail you reach from town.
The water is shallow and sandy near the shore, which is honestly what makes McLeod stand out from a lot of the other lakes in the basin. I dipped my feet in — it’s warmer than you would think because of the shallow shore, but the gradual entry makes it manageable in a way that some of the deeper alpine lakes aren’t. Past the shallows, I’d imagine it gets frigid fast, but hanging near the beach is totally doable on a warm afternoon. Don’t forget to pack a towel! 😉
Fishing is popular here too, just know it’s catch and release only before you haul gear up.
If you have time, loop the whole lake — it adds about 0.8 miles and the views from the far shore looking back at Mammoth Mountain are worth it.
Getting There
Address/GPS: Horseshoe Lake Parking Lot, end of Lake Mary Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA
From Mammoth Lakes village, take Lake Mary Road all the way to the end — about 5 miles. The road ends at the Horseshoe Lake parking lot. The McLeod Lake trailhead sign is at the far end of the lot, right behind the bathrooms and the trail map board.
The Mammoth Lakes Basin Trolley also stops here in summer, so if you’re staying in town you don’t have to drive.
Season: Accessible roughly May through mid-October, depending on snowpack. The trail can hold snow well into June in heavy snow years which is sadly not a problem these days, so check conditions before you go.
What to Pack
This is a short hike, but you’re still at 9,000+ feet in the Eastern Sierra:
- Water — more than you think you need at altitude
- Sunscreen — the UV exposure at elevation is no joke
- Layers — it can swing 20+ degrees between the parking lot and midday sun at the lake
- Day Pack — a small one will suffice to carry all your snacks and things
- Trail shoes — hiking boots aren’t necessary for this one
- Towel and swimsuit if you’re going in
No wilderness permit is required for this day hike.
Nearby Mammoth Hikes
McLeod Lake makes a perfect hour hike leaving plenty of time in the rest of the day to explore the rest of the basin. A few posts that might help you plan out the rest of your time in Mammoth:
- [easy/ short] Rainbow Falls from Devils Postpile — another easy-to-moderate hike nearby, gets really hot in the summer afternoon
- [easy/ short] Inyo Craters — 0.8 miles and a totally different kind of weird and beautiful
- [easy/ short] Devils Postpile — worth pairing with the same visit to the Reds Meadow area by shuttle
- [moderate] Mammoth Crest to Deer Lakes — if you want to see the ridge you’re staring at from McLeod from a whole different angle (and much longer and harder)
- [moderate] Duck Pass Trail — for when you want a real full-day commitment in the lakes basin but highly recommended
- Best Mammoth Lakes Camping Guide — for everything you need to plan an overnight trip to the area
McLeod is an underrated gem in a basin full of impressive lakes. It’s never going to be the hardest hike in your Mammoth trip, but it might end up being the most memorable 45 minutes of it.
Hiked McLeod Lake? Drop your experience in the comments below — especially if you went for a swim.
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Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
Join Tiff on her quest to share the wonders of nature and inspire others to follow their own path in the great outdoors.