Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes
Cappie’s Scoop: A trail full of lakes, yes please! But there was still some snow on the ground and the lakes were ice cold so mom wouldn’t let me swim. I was bummed. At least I got to play in the snow which was a lot of fun! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!
Tips: The Little Lakes Valley/Mosquito Flats trailhead is very popular so arrive early to get a parking spot. This would also make a great trail to backpack either to Gem Lakes or even Ruby Lake (see our other post on hiking to this lake). Overnight permits are required in the John Muir Wilderness, https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262.
Directions: From the Toms Place exit on 395 (north of Bishop and south of Mammoth), head west on Rock Creek Road. From Toms Place (junction of Lake Crowley Road and Rock Creek Road), continue west for 10.4 miles to the Mosquito Flats Trailhead.
| Mileage (round trip) | 8.5 |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Gain (in feet) | 1400 |
| Trailhead | 37.435233, -118.747108 |
| Hike Time (in hours) | 5-6 |
| Exposure | Sunny |
| Scenery | Mountain Views, Forest, Alpine Lake Views |
| Facilities | Toilets and picnic tables at the trailhead. No potable water. Water from creeks, lakes and springs should be treated and/or filtered before drinking. |
| Fees/Permits | None |
| More Info | https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20404&actid=50 |
| Last Hiked | 5/10/2021, 6/16/2023 |
