Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit
Hiking business nearby (~20 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
Jackass Lakes
California
California
Free — you'll pick up right here.
3.0 mi
Distance
733 ft
Gain
1h 22m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Sierra National Forest
3 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Ansel Adams Wilderness wilderness
Out & back
Here's your day, mapped
Jackass Lakes
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
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Meals
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Gear for the day
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Elevation & route
- Distance
- 3.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 733 ft
- Elevation loss
- 733 ft
- Highest point
- 8,673 ft
- Lowest point
- 8,019 ft
More about this trail ↓
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Wilderness area
- Ansel Adams Wilderness
- Surface
- Natural
- Accessibility
- Not an accessible trail (Forest Service accessibility status)
Source for surface, accessibility: USDA Forest Service National Forest System Trails (EDW)
About this trail
This challenging 3-mile out-and-back route in California takes hikers into the heart of the Ansel Adams Wilderness trail network. Jackass Lakes offers a demanding adventure for experienced hikers seeking to explore this remote backcountry system. The trail's difficulty rating makes it suitable for those prepared for strenuous conditions and elevation gain.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 8,070 ft
- High point
- 8,673 ft
- Total climbing
- 733 ft
- Total descent
- 733 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 17% grade around mile 0.2 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 3 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Most of the climbing comes early, so the second half is easier.
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA weather station, 25 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan41° high13° low
- Feb38° high12° low
- Mar42° high15° low
- Apr45° high22° low
- May54° high27° low
- Jun65° high33° low
- Jul71° high38° low
- Aug70° high36° low
- Sep65° high32° low
- Oct57° high26° low
- Nov47° high20° low
- Dec40° high12° low
Where it is
- Ansel Adams Wilderness · Wilderness
- Bass Lake Ranger District · Ranger district
- Sierra National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Source: Wilderness.net boundaries; USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1
Conditions
Active alerts for Bass Lake Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Mammoth Pool Boat Launch Rehabilitation
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Mammoth Pool Boat Launch Order Termination
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Beasore Stock DriveHiking0.9 mi
- BowlerCamping1 mi
- Norris LakeHiking1.3 mi
- Upper ChiquitoCamping3.5 mi
- Jackass CreekCanoeing4.2 mi
- West Fork Granite CreekCanoeing4.4 mi
- Mammoth PoolRock climbing5.7 mi
- Swimming Hole WallRock climbing8.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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Guided trips nearby
Local operatorsoffering guided trips. You book directly with them — Roamze doesn’t take a cut.
View operator
Bishop Pack Outfitters
Hiking business nearby (~44 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
Rainbow Pack Outfitters
Hiking business nearby (~49 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
