Duck Pass Trailhead

We took Duck Pass trail to Duck Lake and camped out overnight. This trail does not disappoint. At every turn there was something amazing to view. The first part of the trail is straight up but don’t let that stop you. Once you get past that it starts to even out and you get the beautiful sceneries that the Sierra Nevadas promises you. The lakes you pass and the streams you cross make you stop in wonder. If you take the trail up over the pass to Duck Lake you will be rewarded with a deep blue sea of water. Some tips: Bring water it gets hot up there, the mosquitoes are the size of birds spray before you go, wear lots of sunscreen and don’t forget your camera! Happy Hiking :)
Read more about our trip in my blog:

Wow. This was my goal for the summer and it didn’t disappoint!
The trailhead area has flush toilets and a lot of parking (among Duck Pass Trailhead, Emerald Lake Trailhead and the Mine).
You can create your own adventure on this trail. Some people only go to Arrowhead Lake which is a pretty short hike, or to Skelton Lake which is just a bit further. Both lakes are beautiful. Or you can go as far as you can without going up the pass, which would be Barney Lake. Not as much to see at that lake, but the Mammoth Crest is breathtaking. Or you can cut across to Emerald Lake, Sky Meadows and then to TJ/​Barrett. Or, you can do the holy grail and ascend to Duck Pass and see Duck Lake and Pika Lake. The views from the pass are some of the best one can find in the area as you can see some of the lakes you passed along the way, and also Mammoth Mountain. Duck Lake is massive and truly something to see. You can continue down the trail to the end of Duck Lake, where it intersects with PCT, or take a left and visit Pika Lake (that was not the highlight of the hike… the trail was very rocky and steep and not well maintained… I kept losing the trail and the climb back to the top was not fun). At Duck Lake, have some lunch and enjoy your hard work. I saw so many people get there, take a few pictures, and then immediately descend the mountain. WTF.
Most of the trail (minus the climb to Duck Pass) is «moderate», so if you’re in shape it isn’t bad at all and quite enjoyable, but if you’re out of shape (or not acclimated to the altitude) it will be quite a workout. The pass looks intimidating. Right past Barney Lake, the trail takes you into a bowl where you are surrounded by high mountains of nothing but rock. Looking straight ahead, it looked like the trail ended at the mass of rock, but I quickly found the switchbacks. The trail here is very rocky (and poles made it more difficult only in this section) and you quickly gain elevation.
The part that I dread about this trail is the part closest to the parking lot. It’s switchback hell. I checked my GPS at Arrowhead Lake (if I remember correctly) and it showed the trailhead as being 0.75 miles away *as the crow flies*. I swear it was about 2 miles with all the switchbacks and constant boulder steps (poles really help me here) but I digress. I almost took the Emerald Lake trail back because that is straight downhill (though pretty steep).
It is good to be prepared. It is amazing to me how many people I saw that looked like they were going for a stroll along the beach, but they made it. As a previous reviewer mentioned, 4 hours is a good estimate for the entire hike, though it depends on your shape etc. My endeavor to Pika Lake added another 2 hours. With kids (younger than teens), I would not take them past Skelton Lake. Bring a lot of water, and a snack (or lunch). Unless you’re backpacking (or got a really early start), I wouldn’t continue a whole lot further on the trail past Duck Lake as you might not make it back before sunset.
Finally, even if you’re acclimated to Mammoth elevation, the altitude may get to you as you approach the top of the pass. I was breathing much harder up there, and also on the hike to Pika Lake.

So — let me premise this review by saying we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into with this hike.
My hubbie and I are from San Diego and LOVE coming up to Mammoth in the summer time to get away and do some hiking.
We had done a 5 ½ long mile hike the day before and wanted something more challenging. We looked up some interesting hikes and settled on Duck Pass Trail.
has a great turn-​by-​turn detail of how to get to, and stay on the trail. Start at Coldwater Creek campground and expect at least a 7.2 mile hike round-​trip.
The first two miles are a progressive ascent with views of waterfalls and Arrowhead lake. Gorgeous. The climb continues until you get to Skelton lake surrounded by gorgeous meadows. After skeleton lake expect a trail dominated by mounds of shale. This is really the ugliest part of the climb, until you get to the top. Killer views of Duck Lake and the mountains surrounding you.
Couple of tips:
1. Make sure you know this hike will take at least 4 hours if you are taking your time
2. If you have ankle or knee problems — wear your brace
3. The elevation may get you. Rest along the way and know it’s normal to have difficulty catching your breath.
4. I wouldn’t recommend this trail for children under the age of 12.
5. Sunscreen, snacks and water!
Best to start early so you can reward yourself with a few beers from Mammoth Brewing Company or Martinis from Smokehouse BBQ… really the best part of the hike. :)

We didn’t do the full hike, but we did get about halfway through with three children 10 and under and a dog. It was a really easy, very beautiful hike. This is probably some of the most beautiful summer hiking I’ve ever done, and each lake we passed had its own beauty. I can’t believe I spent all these winters up here and never came up for the summer. Highly recommended!

Great hike. Very scenic and beautiful lakes. Barney Lake had some mosquito swarms. The hike up the pass was still cover in snow in areas but still passable. Once up on top you see your reward, Beautiful Duck Lake! Myself and my two Boxer pups did this, Maggie is 1 & ½, max is 3 & ½. We all did fine. The trail was blocked in several areas by downed trees. A couple of times I wondered if I was still on the right path, but the pups knew where to go. But on the way down the US forestry dept or whom ever is responsible for clearing these hikes, we’re clearing it. I got to hand it to these guys and gals. It’s not an easy task especially in the sun and on top on a mountain, you got to pack your chainsaws. I thank you folks for what you do for us to enjoy!!!

This is a classic Sierra dayhike that passes several gorgeous lakes on its way to dramatic views at the top of Duck Pass. A trip all the way to Duck Lake is a little over 4 miles.
The trailhead is at the back of Coldwater Campground (this campground is quite large, and walking through it to get to the trailhead will add nearly a mile to your hike), and it consists of a large paved parking area, bathrooms, and bear lockers. The day we were there the parking lot was nearing full, and I imagine at times it can fill up quite early.
The first 1.5 miles of the hike is a steady climb through shady forest. The switchbacks are well-​graded and, under normal conditions, would be fairly easy, but at over 9000′ elevation, nothing is easy, and you are likely to become winded quite early. After you pass Arrowhead Lake, things smooth out a bit and become very scenic. The next stop is Skelton Lake, and it is impossible not to stop here for a short break… maybe even a swim. Up and up to Barney Lake, past which the trail turns into rocky switchbacks in the sun to get to the top of the pass. The switchbacks aren’t really so terrible as you might expect, and there are plenty of good places to stop for a rest if you need to. When we were here, late season snow was still blocking up much of the trail, so we climbed to within .5 miles of the pass before we decided to turn around. (The view is plenty good from that point.) Be sure to check trail conditions before hitting this trail, as snow lingers long into the summer.