Horseshoe Lake Trailhead

  • Situated at the end of Lake Mary Road and the Lakes Basin Path, the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead is a popular recreation area and staging point for the Mammoth Pass Trail and Horseshoe Lake Loop. Public transportation via the Town Trolly is available throughout the summer season, including bike trailers for convenient shuttling. Bathrooms, trailhead maps, local information and a large parking area (including spaces for equestrian trailers) makes this a recommended trailhead in the Lakes Basin. With the Mammoth Crest escarpment and the southern flank of Mammoth Mountain as a backdrop, the area is further distinguished by more than 100 acres of tree kill; carbon dioxide from cooling magma seeped through the surface after a swarm of small earthquakes hit in 1989-1990. In dry years, as its feeder streams dry up, the lake diminishes dramatically over the summer, leaving expanses of sandy beach to play on.

  • Situated at the end of Lake Mary Road and the Lakes Basin Path, the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead is a popular recreation area and staging point for the Mammoth Pass Trail and Horseshoe Lake Loop. Public transportation via the Town Trolly is available throughout the summer season, including bike trailers for convenient shuttling. Bathrooms, trailhead maps, local information and a large parking area (including spaces for equestrian trailers) makes this a recommended trailhead in the Lakes Basin. With the Mammoth Crest escarpment and the southern flank of Mammoth Mountain as a backdrop, the area is further distinguished by more than 100 acres of tree kill; carbon dioxide from cooling magma seeped through the surface after a swarm of small earthquakes hit in 1989-1990. In dry years, as its feeder streams dry up, the lake diminishes dramatically over the summer, leaving expanses of sandy beach to play on.

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Related Trails

Related Trails

Trail Length (mi) Surface Activities and Services
Horseshoe Lake Loop 1.5 Soil Hiking Mountain Biking Pets
Horseshoe Woods 0.8 Equestrian Hiking Mountain Biking Pets Running
Lakes Basin Path 5.3 Asphalt Biking E-Biking Hiking Pets
Mammoth Pass Trail 4.1 Soil Equestrian Hiking

Related Experiences

Related Experiences

Experience Rating Length (mi) Surface Duration
Family Biking the Horseshoe Lake Loop 1.8 Mixed About an hour
Lake Swimming in McLeod Lake 1.2 Water Less than 4 hours
Pets on the Horseshoe Lake Loop 1.8 Mixed Less than 4 hours
Sport Climbing at Horseshoe Slabs 1.0 Soil Less than 4 hours
Stand Up Paddleboarding on Horseshoe Lake 0.6 Water Less than 4 hours
Trail Running around Horseshoe Lake and Swimming Horseshoe Lake 2.7 Mixed Less than 4 hours
How to get involved Local recreation resources Experiences and ratings Finding your way around the MLTS Trail System Projects