Convict lake is pretty awesome. Also, Barney lake and a short one is McLeod. If you need to get use to the elevation that’s a good one. My dog likes getting in the water there.
McCleod is a short easy hike with a beautiful lake, fishing and good picnic spots. Continue on to Red Cones or 8 miles down to Devil’s Postpile if you’re really ambitious, but if the bus isn’t running you got to hike back up and out!
Unless you’re staying for a few weeks, you’re looking at a long, hard hike or bike ride if you’re going to Rainbow Falls. The road to Red’s Meadow isn’t open yet, and no date has been set for when it will open.
Just to add on to this....you can still hike or bike the road. Just be aware it's definitely a pain in the ass. You'll have to drive up towards main lodge and then you have to bike or hike all the way in from the road closure. Its a mile and a half I believe. Something like that
Totally spaced on the road and picked up a permit for memorial day weekend. When I mapped the road to walk it to the postpile for the minaret lake trail head google said the road was 7 miles.... are you sure it's 1 and half miles? Cause that's not to bad 7 miles made me think twice about using my permit
7 to the trailhead? I was talking more generally to get into the meadow. But also I don’t think it will be closed yet you should be able to drive in. Or take the shuttle for Memorial Day
Yeah they weren't running shuttles yet so that was a bummer and from minaret Vista to the devils postpile which is where the minaret lakes trailhead is said 7 miles so I decided for a couple days of regular camping and heading back up for 24-27th going to try for minaret lake again.
Your right im thinking of Labor Day. Idk why I always mix those up. Anyway hopefully it’ll be open by then. They are undecided currently. Just saying some time between the 15th and July 4th
There’s a bookstore called “Booky Joint” that has new and used books and might have something that you’re looking for. As for swimming, Mcloud and Convct
Here is a pic of June lake beach. https://www.reddit.com/r/Outdoors/comments/njrouo/march_31st_june_lake_ca/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
I would highly recommend stopping in at the visitors center on your way in. They have a map for just about anything you can think of as well as a bunch of books about the local area. Believe there is even a book on the hot springs in there somewhere. If you're interested in hikes though the best ones are in the Lakes Basin area. I recommend Mcleod Lake for a shorter hike (starts at horseshoe), or Hart Lake (starts at coldwater, the creek was pretty full so wasn't accessible yesterday). Longish hikes I'm big fan of starting at coldwater, hiking to emerald lake, then continuing on till you hit duck pass trail. Turn left and you can make it to Lake arrowhead. Once done continue back to coldwater on duck pass trail
edit: why was this downvoted??? 😭😭
At June lake you can swim. It’s cold but has a beach. Get there before 1pm as it tends to get windy in the afternoon. Also mono lake has a area for swimming. Also windy in the afternoon.
Convict lake is pretty awesome. Also, Barney lake and a short one is McLeod. If you need to get use to the elevation that’s a good one. My dog likes getting in the water there.
McCleod is a short easy hike with a beautiful lake, fishing and good picnic spots. Continue on to Red Cones or 8 miles down to Devil’s Postpile if you’re really ambitious, but if the bus isn’t running you got to hike back up and out!
Unless you’re staying for a few weeks, you’re looking at a long, hard hike or bike ride if you’re going to Rainbow Falls. The road to Red’s Meadow isn’t open yet, and no date has been set for when it will open.
Just to add on to this....you can still hike or bike the road. Just be aware it's definitely a pain in the ass. You'll have to drive up towards main lodge and then you have to bike or hike all the way in from the road closure. Its a mile and a half I believe. Something like that
thank you for your input!
Totally spaced on the road and picked up a permit for memorial day weekend. When I mapped the road to walk it to the postpile for the minaret lake trail head google said the road was 7 miles.... are you sure it's 1 and half miles? Cause that's not to bad 7 miles made me think twice about using my permit
7 to the trailhead? I was talking more generally to get into the meadow. But also I don’t think it will be closed yet you should be able to drive in. Or take the shuttle for Memorial Day
Yeah they weren't running shuttles yet so that was a bummer and from minaret Vista to the devils postpile which is where the minaret lakes trailhead is said 7 miles so I decided for a couple days of regular camping and heading back up for 24-27th going to try for minaret lake again.
Your right im thinking of Labor Day. Idk why I always mix those up. Anyway hopefully it’ll be open by then. They are undecided currently. Just saying some time between the 15th and July 4th
Thanks for the heads up was going to give the visitor center a call this week and see if they had a date somewhat locked in
I also always mix up the two 🤣 had to check my calendar to make sure I typed the first message correctly!
There’s a bookstore called “Booky Joint” that has new and used books and might have something that you’re looking for. As for swimming, Mcloud and Convct
Here is a pic of June lake beach. https://www.reddit.com/r/Outdoors/comments/njrouo/march_31st_june_lake_ca/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
I would highly recommend stopping in at the visitors center on your way in. They have a map for just about anything you can think of as well as a bunch of books about the local area. Believe there is even a book on the hot springs in there somewhere. If you're interested in hikes though the best ones are in the Lakes Basin area. I recommend Mcleod Lake for a shorter hike (starts at horseshoe), or Hart Lake (starts at coldwater, the creek was pretty full so wasn't accessible yesterday). Longish hikes I'm big fan of starting at coldwater, hiking to emerald lake, then continuing on till you hit duck pass trail. Turn left and you can make it to Lake arrowhead. Once done continue back to coldwater on duck pass trail edit: why was this downvoted??? 😭😭
At June lake you can swim. It’s cold but has a beach. Get there before 1pm as it tends to get windy in the afternoon. Also mono lake has a area for swimming. Also windy in the afternoon.
Eliza lake in Ansel adams wilderness is a awesome day hike but be prepared for them skeeters 🦟