John Muir Wilderness - Duck Lake Loop - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | John Muir Wilderness - Duck Lake Loop |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | California |
| Nearby Town: | Mammoth Lakes |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From Hwy. 395, take Hwy. 203 through Mammoth Lakes. Hwy. 203 becomes Main Street, which in turn becomes Lake Mary Road. Go left at the Y junction after the pack station, and park at the Coldwater Campground/Duck Pass trailhead. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 26.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Duck Pass trailhead |
| Trails Used: | Duck Pass Trail, John Muir Trail, part cross-country |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Lakes |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Inyo National Forest 760-873-2400 |
| Best Season: | Summer |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | Hike past Skelton and Barney Lakes and over Duck Pass (campsites at Pika Lake, follow the spur trail). The trail makes a long traverse high above the shore of Duck Lake, then crosses the lake's outlet and descends to a junction with the John Muir Trail. Follow the JMT south to Purple Lake (campsites). Follow the lightly used trail up the creek to Ram Lake (spectacular campsites). Make your way to the opposite shore and climb up the low ridge to begin the cross-country portion of the hike. Descend into Glenette basin and aim for the low point in the ridge directly ahead. From there, you'll easily follow the creek and succession of lakelets all the way down to Lake Virginia (campsites), where you'll take a right on the JMT, following it back past Purple Lake and Duck Lake to your car. (Topo map for this hike is Bloody Mountain.) |
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