Enjoyed by campers, fishermen and hikers, Coldwater Creek starts high up on the northern slope of the Mammoth Crest, where snowmelt and springwater collect and eventually form into a fast-flowing freestone creek. The creek runs along the Emerald Lake Trail, flows past the west side of the Coldwater Campground and finally empties into Lake Mary. The corridor is lined with lush green foliage, Jeffrey pines and wildflowers, creating a photogenic landscape and scenic trail. The shallow, rocky bottom produces small cascading waterfalls. Small brook trout are abundant in deeper pools and inlet streams.