3-Day 2-Night Backpacking Itinerary to Minaret Lake:
One of the famous alpine lakes in the Sierra Mountains, Minaret Lake is a must-see on your visit to Ansel Adams Wilderness. The iconic jagged peaks surrounding the lake resemble a Minaret hence the name. Upon arriving and camping out at this lake, you feel as though you are in an amphitheater created by the mountains.
Trek Specs:
Type Of Route: Loop
Total Distance: ~24.4 miles
Total Elevation Gain: ~7,093ft
Backpacking Permits Required: Yes
Day 1: Car at Agnew Meadows Road to Ediza Lake (Shadow Creek).
- Distance: ~6.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~1,388ft
- Via Pacific Crest Trail>Shadow Creek Trail(overlap with John Muir Trail)>Ediza Lake trail
Day 2: Ediza Lake (Shadow Creek) to Deadhorse Lake (Minaret Lake)
- Distance: ~7.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~4,665ft
- Via Route up Ritter> hike down>Ediza Lake Spur Trail>Shadow Creek trail>Cecile Lake Trail>Minaret Creek Trail
- Here you can take a detour to the hike to Mount Ritter where we got some cool views of Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes.
Day 3: Deadhorse Lake (minaret Lake) to Agnew Meadows.
- Distance: ~11.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~1,040ft
- Via Minaret Creek Trail>John Muir Trail>Pacific Crest Trail
