California · Hiking · Near Mammoth Lakes

Horseshoe Lake Loop

Horseshoe Lake LoopPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3.3 mi
round trip
37 ft
climb
8,987 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Horseshoe Lake Loop open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Horseshoe Lake Loop is a 3.3-mile out-and-back hike in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of about 37 feet, so it's a short walk with little climbing. The route sits on natural surface, and bikes are allowed. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs stay around 41°F. Falls Tract, a cross-country ski area, is just 0.1 mile away, and the Mammoth Pass Cutoff mountain biking route and the Dog Boulder climbing area are each about 0.3 mile off. Twin Lakes Campground is roughly 0.8 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Lower Falls Tract

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lakefront

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Twin Falls view

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mammoth Lakes

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Horseshoe Lake Loop

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 17°

    2. Feb

      41° / 18°

    3. Mar

      45° / 22°

    4. Apr

      51° / 27°

    5. May

      60° / 35°

    6. Jun

      70° / 42°

    7. Jul

      78° / 49°

    8. Aug

      77° / 47°

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

    10. Oct

      61° / 30°

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

    12. Dec

      41° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 4.1 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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