The Rim Trail climbs roughly 1,000 feet from its junction with the Mammoth Pass-Crater Meadows Trail just west of McLeod Lake, inside the John Muir Wilderness, to the Mammoth Crest. Following the open ridgeline along the wilderness boundary, the trail presents spectacular 360-degree views across both the Mammoth Lakes Basin and the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. At the top of the crest, the trail connects with the Mammoth Crest Trail for loop options either down to Lake George or south via Deer Lakes to Duck Pass.