Emerald Lake Trail is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Mammoth Lakes, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and nature trips and is best used from June until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
October 10, 2020Great trail! It’s a must do hike with your loved ones
September 4, 2020Great trail. Did a day hike. Recommend start early so can spend time at lakes. Looks to be popular backpacking trail. Several groups going to Purple lake 1-2 miles past duck lake and a few going to Pika lake. Just past duck lake. All the way to the mouth of Duck Pass lake round trip approximately 10 miles. (Started my recording upon our return so incomplete) 90% is up hill. Going in and 90% is downhill going out. Came from San Jose. Zero elevation. (Escaping smoke from fires) Bring lots of water or water filter. One of guys said our elevation gain was 1700 + feet. It felt like it. Views are amazing. Truly worth the work you put in. Hope to backpack here some day and really enjoy the lakes!
September 3, 2020Lake is so beautiful. What ruins this trail is horse crap all over the trail. It smells like horse crap all the way there. Why do horses get to use the trails and not pick up after themselves.
August 30, 2020Really enjoyed this trail on a Sunday afternoon. Went clockwise and it’s a bit of a climb but nothing too crazy. No bugs at all.
August 25, 2020So beautiful! One of my favorite hikes ever. Stunning views, lots of lakes to dip into. First section and last section of the hike are tough but so worth it.
August 25, 2020Beautiful trail! I would call it moderate, with the last push to duck lake being moderate to hard. Work the extra effort at the end!
August 24, 2020August 19, 2020August 19, 2020August 18, 2020Started on the emerald lake trail connecting to duck pass finished at pika lake at 5.6 miles. Took 3.5 hrs to get there with a stop for snacks half way take it slow the incline can be tough
August 18, 2020August 14, 2020Easy short hike up to Emerald Lake. It was perfect for a picnic lunch and letting the kids play in the water. I went for a quick swim since the water wasn’t as cold as other alpine lakes we’ve visited. Most people were wearing masks or trying to social distance. The trail is fairly wide - making social distancing possible. Google Maps was a bit confusing - directing us to drive up a one way street at the campground. Just drive through the campground on the right side and you will reach the parking lot. Trail head is by the bathroom.
August 10, 2020It’s a touch harder than easy of an incline all the way to the Lake. You can hear and see (at some points) a lovely stream along the trail.
August 8, 2020July 30, 2020Great trail, tons of options to follow the river
July 28, 2020Great hike for the family to do! Very well maintained trail and lots of shade! There are some steeper parts to it, but nothing outrageous. The views or both emerald and Skelton lake are absolutely stunning!
July 19, 2020We got a late start and had to wait awhile for parking. The hike up to Emerald was busy both directions. It’s a nice hike with steady but doable uphill. Slow and steady. My 5 year old handled it with ease. Emerald was crowded all around the small lake. It is gorgeous especially when the sun makes all the greenery around it radiate vibrantly. We headed off past Emerald to a meadow that is past it. The trail follows the stream most of the way and is absolutely stunning! We did not see another person on this stretch of trail. We pulled off to the side and ate lunch. We never made it to the meadow. Next year!
July 16, 2020Really lovely trail. There is a pretty cool abandoned mine that is early on in the hike. The trail has a creek with some small waterfalls on the way up and lots of interesting fallen trees. The views of Emerald Lake are just stunning. It is surrounded by a beautiful green meadow one side, great view of the mountain peaks behind it, and lots of cool looking rocky terrain on the other side. Great photo ops. On a mid-summer Wednesday afternoon I only encountered a few other people. Such a peaceful hike!
July 15, 2020To access the trailhead, drive all the way through the campground, there’s a parking lot with plenty of space there. The trail is nice and shaded. Uphill but doable. Very quiet on a Tuesday morning. If you are doing this hike, it is very much worth your while to continue up the trail to the meadow, even just for a little bit. You walk right beside the stream and it was one of the most enjoyable parts of my entire day (hiked 8-9 miles in this area). Very scenic and serene.
July 4, 2020After following the emerald Lake trail to Skeleton lake, hug the lake instead of going up duck trail. It’s an I maintained trail but there is enough of a path to easily follow. Once you get past skeleton lake you will cross over a river to continue, no bridge but many ways to get across. Once your in the other side the path follows the stream and then up rocks to have a view above the lake.
June 30, 2020Amazing hike
June 28, 2020The trailhead is at the end of Coldwater lake campground. Very clearly marked with lots of parking. Trail is short and up all the way but well worth it and amazing view at the lake! And yes the lake is emerald green.
June 28, 2020Emerald lake trailhead is at the end of Coldwater lake campground. Drive all the way through the campground for the trailhead at the end. Short trail and up the whole way but the view at the end is amazing and the lake is emerald green
November 24, 2019Great view and likely a frozen lake depending on the time of year. It was about 1.5” and unsafe for skating when we were there, but others have said that it freezes over at certain times of the season. It was frozen enough to do some hockey passing and stickhandling along the shoreline.
September 18, 2019Beautiful morning hike. Not a lot of foot traffic for a Wednesday.
September 15, 2019Nice hike with friends
August 15, 2019I would characterize this as a pond, not a lake. We didn’t let our dogs swim or drink in it. The view of the mountains behind the lake is incredible, it is worth the hike. Easy hike good for families and kids. (If you keep going past the pond and take duck pass you can get to the much more spectacular Skelton lake, but it’s a steep haul for a half mile). Very very buggy.
August 4, 2019Beautiful with some mosquitos
July 30, 2019Nice doable hike with incline, families and dogs around late morning. 10-15 min walk from the free summer shuttle stop at the bottom of Coldwater campground. Clear and still water of this small lake is beautiful for photos. A good amount of mosquitos though.
