Minaret Vista Trail 1.2 mi

Overview
Map

Located within Mammoth Mountain Ski Area but open to the public with no fee required, this trail starts from behind the Mammoth Mountain Inn and climbs gently for 1.5 miles through a forest of red fir and lodgepole pine, following the course of Minaret Road to the parking and picnic area at Minaret Vista. At the vista, on the open saddle of San Joaquin Ridge looking out over the upper San Joaquin drainage from the Junction Bluffs to the sheer wall of the Minarets and the Ritter Range, a variety of signs and viewing tubes serve to interpret the geology and individual features of this unique wilderness landscape. Winter access is by snowmobile, snowshoes or skis.
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Located within Mammoth Mountain Ski Area but open to the public with no fee required, this trail starts from behind the Mammoth Mountain Inn and climbs gently for 1.5 miles through a forest of red fir and lodgepole pine, following the course of Minaret Road to the parking and picnic area at Minaret Vista. At the vista, on the open saddle of San Joaquin Ridge looking out over the upper San Joaquin drainage from the Junction Bluffs to the sheer wall of the Minarets and the Ritter Range, a variety of signs and viewing tubes serve to interpret the geology and individual features of this unique wilderness landscape. Winter access is by snowmobile, snowshoes or skis.

Info
Directions

Trail Activities
Public Services
Trail Information
- Soil
- A standard ramp is 8%. Conditions subject to change.
This trail can be accessed at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Main Lodge. Or you can drive up to Minaret Vista and access the trailhead there.
*Note that not all facilities are accessible via public transit.

Reviews

July 27, 2016

“Fun little out and back. Shaded for a majority of the trail, last half mile can be quite warm until you get to the vista, where it's usually windy. Often times there's still snow in the shaded fir/pine forest. Suitable for almost anyone.”

B, Orange County, CA

July 27, 2016

“Easy hike trail. Beautiful trail through forest and open meadows with good views. Spectacular view at the vista. Scattered standing dead wood all along through trail.”

Mark Davies, Unknown

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Related Destinations

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Main Lodge

Hours/Season: Call for hours | Year Round

Minaret Vista

Hours/Season: N/A | Year Round

Related Destinations

Destination	Activities and Services
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Main Lodge
Minaret Vista

Related Experiences

Hiking the Sierra Crest from Minaret Vista to Deadman Pass

4.1 mi

Rating: ▣ ,
Surface: Soil,
Duration: Less than 4 hours

Photography at Minaret Vista

0.2 mi

Rating: ◉ ,
Surface: Soil,
Duration: Less than 4 hours

Vista Viewing from the Minaret Vista

0.2 mi

Rating: ◉ ,
Surface: Mixed,
Duration: Less than 4 hours

Related Experiences

Experience	Rating	Length (mi)	Surface	Duration
Hiking the Sierra Crest from Minaret Vista to Deadman Pass	▣	4.1	Soil	Less than 4 hours
Photography at Minaret Vista	◉	0.2	Soil	Less than 4 hours
Vista Viewing from the Minaret Vista	◉	0.2	Mixed	Less than 4 hours