This trail starts at the very popular Twin Lakes trailhead by Wrights Lake. A great hike near June Lake is the hike to Thousand Island Lake Trail; the trailhead is near the Silver Lake campground. After a mile, pass a sign indicating The Brothers Wilderness. After 0.9 miles you will reach a fork in the trail where a short detour will take you down to Arrowhead Lake. You will take the Duck Pass Trailhead for this hike. The views from the top are absolutely stunning and worth taking a break before you head down further. At 5.4 miles the pavement ends; you’re on good dirt roads the rest of the way. Mammoth Mountain (11,030-ft.) dominates the skyline to the northwest. Two miles from the trailhead you have your first glimpse of the Duckabush River. Duck Pass Trail begins at a parking lot near the far end of Cold Water Campground and is well marked. It's more than a 1/2 mile along the west side. Drive CA Highway 3 to French Creek Road, which is 30.9 miles from the junction of CA 3 and I-5 in Yreka and 8.3 miles from Callahan. Be sure to check road closures before going, as this road is closed every winter/spring with variable opening dates. Once turning north from Highway 50, you’ll be heading up the side of a mountain on a very windy road for about 30 minutes to get to the main lot. Little Duck Lake and Big Duck Lake from the west, from my cross-country hike to High Lake Reaching the Lipstick Lake Trail Junction. Some people only go to Arrowhead Lake which is a pretty short hike, or to Skelton Lake which is just a bit further. The climb is steady but mild, zigzagging through the forest. Drive west on French Creek Road. It can easily be done as a day hike, but turning it into a overnight backpacking trip is the perfect way to experience the alpenglow on the surrounding mountain ranges … From the Lake Mary Junction (waypoint LMRJCT) drive one and a quarter miles west-northwest to the northern tip of Horseshoe Lake. From the trail summit we could see Pika Lake across Duck Lake (see photo on right). You'll recognize the trailhead for Mammoth Pass (waypoint MAMPAS) by all the dead trees around it! After admiring the views ascend to Duck Pass (10,800-ft.), 7.4 miles from the trailhead. Expect moderate-to-strenuous uphill climbs, starting in the shade, then sun-exposed in higher elevations. Descend a short hill, then follow the trail as it flattens out through some stunning fir and pines. This area has CO2 (carbon dioxide) leaching up through … WTA wields their tools here as well, evening tread and providing sturdier footing for hikers. About 0.7 miles from the junction of the Old Mammoth Rd and the Lake Mary Rd turn left onto Around Lake Mary Rd, go ~0.6 miles and turn left again into the Cold Water Campground. Drive through Mammoth Lakes, CA, and either take the Lake Mary Rd or the Old Mammoth Rd toward the Mammoth Lakes. The PCT continues on, dropping down and passing Sheep Lake, then crossing Highway 410 at Chinook Pass, 2.4 miles from Sourdough Gap. Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Permits: Wilderness permit required for overnight stay. Trip Date: September 1-2,2018 Trail Overview. Duck Lake is pretty big. ... Once on top you will walk for a few more minute until you hit a fork in the trail where you will want to stay left to get to Pika Lake.

Duck Pass Trail leads you back to the Mammoth Lakes basin.