We circled around the lake and worked our way up a stream towards the valley at the base of Ritter. I wore myself out to get there this past weekend, with 500 miles of driving and 14 miles of hiking. Then, follow the trail up Shadow Creek until you reach the junction with the Ediza Lake Trail, and continue east. It can get very hot very quick. Trail to Lake Ediza packer 2013-04-15T17:27:06+00:00. After Shadow Lake, you will keep going. Fed from Lake Ediza and glacier melt the stream always flows well and creates numerous picturesque settings along the way - have your camera read! Ediza Lake Spur is a 1,815 m black diamond singletrack alpine trail located near Mammoth Lakes California. In addition, there is a long descent on a section of trail comprised almost entirely of scree. When you’re about a quarter mile from the lake, the trail gets a little confusing. You’re about 3 miles from Ediza Lake. Walk around the south, then east shore of the lake to find camping spots. For the next 2.5 miles, the trail traverses open areas with low, deep green bushes, … Keep em comin'-Brent January 28, 2009 at 1:38 AM 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. 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. Down, down we go, under the trees, on the dusty (very dusty) trail. The main climbing is now behind us. Lake Ediza Trail, 1989 (#2) The following days featured cloudless blue skies. My 2nd-lowest handle view atop of Volcanic Ridge is around 11,200ft. You'll find the trailhead on the west side of Ediza Lake (look for the Iceberg Lake sign). On the way you would pass by Garnet Lake, Ruby Lake, and Emerald Lake each of which has stunning views. ... (western) side of Lake Ediza, north of the main inlet stream. Very early Saturday morning I left San Francisco and drove through Yosemite to the eastern side of the Sierras. 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. 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. As the trail nears the junction with Ediza Lake, the rivers and trees will again appear to … No campfires are permitted. 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. There are great views of Ediza present for almost the entire stretch. First sunlight on the Minarets behind Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. 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. Although Ediza Lake is a popular hiking trail in the Mammoth area, it is also one that you really should see. 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. Ediza Lake Hiking Detail, hiking trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. *FRIDAY ITINERARY * AGNEW MEADOWS TO EDIZA LAKE VIA SHADOW LAKE TRAIL, 13 MILES ,1774 FT. GAIN/ LOSS. We were glad that we didn’t dismiss it due to its popularity, as it really is stunning. The bottom of Ediza Lake Falls can be seen up close by following a trail along the southern shore of the lake. The first section of the hike is flat following along a soft, sandy path, but offers little shade. In the summer, from 7am-7pm the road to the trail head is inaccessible to cars. 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 turns upward (as seen in the photo to the right) once again before reaching beautiful Ediza Lake. 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. 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). 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. Backpacking Ediza Lake Agnew Meadows. The upper Nydiver Lakes as seen in the upper left and center of this picture sit roughly around 10,100ft. The hiking at this juncture is peaceful, undulating, and simply epic. In Aug of 2018 this footbridge was out. Find out why this trail is a must, how to prepare and what to expect! WoW! The trail dead ends into the river. It is a much more direct approach for Climbing Mt Ritter. Ediza Lake as seen down below in the lower right of this picture from my vantage point, sits at 9,268ft. The accent is not too bad since there are lots of switchbacks. This hike visits this alpine jewel, passing beautiful Shadow Lake and a series of pretty waterfalls on Shadow Creek along the way. At the High-trail/River-trail junction we opt for the shorter, easier River trail. 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. 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. At the Shadow Creek Trail, take the 1.6-mile detour west to a campsite by Ediza Lake. Ansel Adams Wilderness is located in Mammoth Lakes, California. In the Junction we took a left turn to head up to Thousand Island Lake (lots of ups and downs to look out for). 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. Ediza sure is beautiful! Lake Ediza is hidden in the back of the valley behind Shadow Lake. No camping at Shadow Lake and some areas along Shadow Creek and Ediza Lake. Jul 8, 2020 - Backpacking to Ediza Lake and beyond to Iceburg Lake makes for a stunning adventure! Once you enter Mammoth Lakes it is another 45 minutes to Red’s Meadow Resort on a winding road. We started out by taking the PCT South/River/Shadow Lake trail which is just opposite the pit toilets and bear boxes. The Shadow Trail climbs past Shadow Lake to connect with the John Muir Trail. 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. When we arrived at Ediza Lake it was about 3:00pm, and there were many tents visible along the opposite shoreline. The trail was beautiful the whole way and opens up to a stunning alpine lake and granite peaks surrounding it. The trail between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake is some of the most scenic, passing through beautiful alpine meadows and a meandering Shadow Creek. At 5:04 pm, about 5.2 miles from the start, we reached the Garnet Lake/ Ediza Lake junction from the Shadow Lake trail. Trail to Lake Ediza. We camped at the lake and had a wonderful time!! The bridge marks the intersection of the John Muir Trail and the Ediza Lake Trail. oh, and i enjoyed the pictures!! From there, we hoped to be able to explore Iceberg Lake, then head over to Thousand Island Lake. The trail to Lake Ediza is frequently traveled and is usually completed as an out-and-back day hike. Our Location. 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 … Mammoth Lakes is located about 45 minutes south of the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park. It was a blast hiking "her" up there in my backpack. Hikers can go north or south on the John Muir Trail or continue up Shadow Creek to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes. Before Garnet Lake, the trail is quite exposed. Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is one of the prettest hikes I’ve done by Mammoth Lakes, California. We stayed for more than a week with my wife's brother Todd. Previous hikers have left cairns and directionals to the correct 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). The trail skirts the north shore of this lake to the upper end of Shadow Lake (8750 – 4). Camp overnight at Ediza Lake. 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. 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. 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 This trail also leads to where potential climbers of Mt Ritter make base-camp. “I hiked the trail in May 2016. You can continue north to Garnet Lake from here, or take a 2-mile detour to Ediza Lake by continuing west. Ediza Lake to JMT junction was the easiest part of the trail that day as it was mostly descending. 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. About 300-400 yards before you reach Lake Ediza there's a foot bridge to cross Shadow Creek. The trail skirts the north shore of this lake to the upper end of Shadow Lake (8750 – 4). 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