Best Trails in Ansel Adams Wilderness

Would have been a 5* trail, but about .3 of a mile from Ediza Lake, a double log bridge ensuring a safe crossing of the fast moving creek has washed out. We went up the opposite side of the creek but it was a lot of scrambling and we turned back to be safe. Disappointed but it was a gorgeous hike anyway. Take the shuttle. The road out is very narrow and you’re competing with oncoming shuttle buses, so save yourself the hassle.

Hiked in 8/10 and hiked out 8/11. The first 5 miles are up hill and intense but the views are amazing the entire way. Our overnight was at Thousand Islands lake which is absolutely stunning. At Thousand Islands the mosquitos are insane, even biting us with a ton of bug spray on! (Deet of 15!) we had to eat our meals in our tent to keep the mosquitos from flying into our food. It does drop to below freezing at night but there was little wind while we were there making it perfect. Also, thousand islands is on the JMT and the PCT resulting in a several campers even on a Sunday night. I would recommend it if you're wanting stunning views, but if you're wanting to get away from people this is not a trail I would pick.

July 8-12 2019...AMAZING ! Wow what a change from our trails in Tn. The views were jaw dropping. We caught a shuttle from the Mammoth Adv Ctr down to Agnew Meadows and picked up the Shadow trail up to beautiful Shadow Lake. We made a try for Ediza Lake but the snow bridge had collapsed,so we had to drop packs and do a bit of a “rock climb” up the right side to catch a glimpse of a mostly frozen lake. We decided to come back down the mtn and set up camp for the night. Next day we headed back down about .5 from Shadow Lake and found a nice spot well off the trail for the next two nights. We hiked down and caught a couple beautiful trout for dinner (see pics). I’m ready to go back already!

Loved my experience on this hike. It was my first time backpacking and can't wait to do it again. I did a 3 night, 4 day solo, camping a Ediza on night one. The landscape is beautiful! Prepare to take lots of photos. On day 2, I headed out and up to Garnett Lake for camp 2 and then on to Thousand island for camp 3. Ending my trip returning to Agnew Meadows via the PCT high trail. Overlooking the landscape of the whole area, previously hiked on prior days.

Amazing views through spooky meadows all the way to thousand island lake. Roughly about 35 to 45 switch backs, the first 3 miles are brutal. Lots of great sources for water and a few stream crossings. overall, take two days to do this hike.

Buetiful loop across the crest with amazing views. The trail is very faint above Duck lake but easy to navigate using geographic features. The George Trail is missing from the featured map and connects Emerald lake to George Lake via Bartlett. This route will keep you off pavement and shortens the overall distance.

This was an awesome hike! We started at 5am and didn’t see anyone until mile 8! However the last bit in the pack trail was awful I with I would have looked at the map better to go on the road the other way around Mary lake. It took us 6.5 hours and we got lost many times between the crest and duck pass. I’m glad I downloaded the map and did the recording!

W Maddie Ilan Simón and harry

I consider myself the harshest trail critic and this is really a 5 star spot, most beautiful shit on Earth.

Absolutely beautiful yet challenging. Lots of mosquitoes close to water / small lakes. Took about 11 hours doing the whole loop. Some trails are blurred or not visible that we were lost couple times. Download the map so that you know where you’re at whenever lost. Bring lots of water, we ran out of water for the last 3-4 miles.

Went the opposite way starting north on the PCT. Camped near Ruby lake the first night, and there are a LOT of mosquitoes. Bring plenty of bugspray/ clothes they can't bite through. The hike there was amazing with all the different views across the meadows and then up into the mountains. Hiked to Ediza for night 2. The old footbridge is out so you either need to wade across there or scramble up with the river on your left. Don't cross the river and hike the south side unless you plan to go to Iceberg lake. Camped on a cliff with barely any mosquitoes, but there were just as many close to the water. Can't beat the view here between the snow and the lake. Would definitely recommend this hike to anyone!!

Pretty easy trail- the first 1/2 mile-ish is the steepest part and after that is gradual up hill until it levels out. It’s mostly flat and the lake is very pretty. We saw some people camped out who backpacked in (something to remember for the future). Great views of the lake. We had to cross the stream on a backed up dam on the stream flowing into the lake to get around to one side. Take the bug spray- take sun screen and a hat. Wished we had a hammock to pitch up at the lake.

Great trail with an amazing finish. The mosquitos were pretty gnarly though. Had to keep moving to keep them off me

Awesome hike! Beautiful views. Gravel road to trailhead and be prepared for the mosquitos.

Beautiful trail. The first half is the hard part, when you’re going up. The lake is gorgeous, and you can explore another trail that goes around the lake to the left (not included in the All Trails description and mileage). Just make sure you BRING BUG SPRAY WITH YOU!

Only 2 miles from the trailhead to the lake. First 3/4ths mike was hot and steep. Don’t be afraid to stop in whatever islands of shade present themselves. It gets easier. Got quite pretty when it leveled out and followed alongside the idyllic Parker creek. Lots of people fishing, but pretty much everyone left by the time I got to the lake. The water itself is pretty (be sure to try and get a view from above the shoreline, too). No camping spots to my liking along the north shore. I kept heading up, past the lake, bushwhacking until I got to another wooded grove. Stream is gorgeous here, but it wasn’t an easy bushwack in. Mosquitoes surround the lake. Bring long pants, long sleeves, and a good fighting knife if you want to stand a chance.

We hiked about 8½ miles, hiking to the lake and beyond it to a trail junction with trail to Ediza Lake. One passes Olaine Lake on the way, and in the distance across the lake is a cascade of hundreds of feet. Spectacular was the raging outflow stream from Shadow Lake, which one enjoys on the hike in, mirrored by the raging inflow stream at the other end of the lake. On our July 30, 2019, visit -- lots of wildflowers in bloom (also, so many mosquitoes we wore our head nets throughout). BUT IT GETS BETTER: The next day we hiked the PCT north from Agnew Meadows. At perhaps 3½ miles you'll come to a spot where you look out on Shadow Lake (and its outlet stream), Minarets and miles of Sierras range. Breathtaking. (Multiple stream crossings, albeit none challenging on the day we were there.)

A dream come true for me to camp in the wilderness with my 16 year old son! Scenery was heavenly. Went in late July and still snow on the mountains and up to the edges of the lakes. Camping sites were perfect at Garnet and Ruby Lakes. Thousand Island Lake looks like a movie set, but was quite buggy. But we made it out without one mosquito bite due to to properly seasoned clothing, deet, and head nets. Can't wait to take my other kids!