Mono Pass from Mosquito Flat Trailhead

This is the parking area and trailhead for dayhiking and backpacking the Little Lakes Valley and the John Muir Wilderness. Being at 10,255 feet, it is the highest designated trailhead in the Sierra accessible by car. So it's a good place to start if you are looking for some high elevation hikes. The trailhead is located at the end of Rock Creek Road, about 10 miles from Highway 395, and about 20 miles outside of Mammoth Lakes. There are numerous campgrounds along Rock Creek Road, if you want to have a close "launchpoint" for your dayhikes.

There are a lot of parking spaces at the trailhead, even extending part way back down the road. Though it is a popular spot, you should be able to find some place to park. There are also several bear lockers to store your food, but since the parking lot is so big, there is almost always someone in the area. Food storage should not be a problem for dayhikers (though you are supposed to store all "food" items in a locker at all times).

Rock Creek is the final outlet stream from the Little Lakes Valley, which flows out of the valley, and eventually down to the Owens River. All of the feeder streams from the various lakes eventually make their way to Rock Creek. There are always ample photo opportunities along this creek, as well as good fishing.

This is the first trail junction you come to after the trailhead. It is a right hand offshoot from the main trail, and begins your ascent to Mono Pass. The spur trail to Mono Pass is marked with a wooden sign.

The lower part of the trail to Mono Pass is filled with great views of the valley below. You can see into the valley for quite a long stretch, as you ascend. You really get a sense of insignificance when you see the entire open valley below you, and the enormous jagged, sawtooth mountains in the far distance. It is quite a spectacle!

Trail quality in this portion is relatively good. Though rocky in spots, it is not too hard to maintain a good pace. The trail starts to get worse as you hit the switchbacks toward Ruby Lake, and gets even worse in the upper section.

About 7% for 1.8 miles.

Probably the most beautiful brackish pond in the whole of the Sierra! This is a semi-famous pond partway up the trail to Mono Pass, which has been photographed countless times. It is not possible to get a bad photo from this spot! On a perfectly still day without much wind, the pictures are priceless. You have to stop at this spot to take at least one picture and admire the scenery.

Once you pass Ruby Lake, the trail takes a dramatic turn. Once in view of the lush green valley, you now are in a hot, dry, rocky moonscape. The trail undulates a bit before finally kicking up to Mono Pass. The scenery in this area is dramtically different, but just as scenic. Trail quality deteriorates a bit here, becoming quite loose and rocky.

About 12% for 1.4 miles from the start of the switchbacks (below Ruby Lake).

There is not any kind of marker designating your arrival to Mono Pass, you'll just know you've gotten there when the trail finally ceases going upward, and starts to flatten out and descend. There is one small wooden sign alerting visitors that no fires are allowed (though I don't know where you'd find any wood to burn!).

Mono Pass is a really cool place. There was probably once a much bigger lake in this area - the small Summit Lake being what remains. What is left is a lot of granite sand (decomposed granite, or DG for you civil engineering nerds!). Thus the trail is very soft and easy to walk in (though it is a bit like walking on the beach, and you sink in a bit).

The entire area is made up of "DG", and is in a bowl between Mt. Starr - a rubble pile of a mountain, and an unnamed pile of rubble on the other side. It really is a moonscape. The only thing that seems to grow are some scrubby sage brush and patches of wildflowers.

Congratulations, you've made it to 12,000 feet!

The small Summit Lake is probably the remnants of a larger lake in the area. It is a very small, but quite picturesque lake. It would also make a nice, easy place for backpackers to set up camp, as the hike to this place is not overly difficult. It also makes a great spot to stop and have lunch.

However, it can be windy in this area though. Wind is funneled across the lake as it is at the head of a valley between the mountains on either side. And there are no trees to block any of it. Something to consider if you want to spend a night here.

If you go just a few hundred feet onto the proper trail to the Little Lakes Valley (just past the Mono Trail junction), there is a very nice spot overlooking Mack Lake to take in the incredible vista of Rock Creek and the mountains in the distance.

As the trail begins to ascend onto a small granite slope, leave the trail to your left and onto the granite rocks. The views soon open up dramatically and the creek and lake are directly below you. If you are going up to Mono Pass, you really should take this 5 minute detour to admire the valley.