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Convict Lake

4.5 (144 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Convict Lake Photos

Recommended Reviews - Convict Lake

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Renee N.

We have driven by this exit plenty of times while traveling on Highway 395. A couple of weeks ago, we finally had the time and opportunity to check out this mountain lake. Such a stunning and serene lake created from mountain snow run off. The lakes history is quite interesting. It was originally called Mt. Diablo Lake, but there was a huge prison outbreak in 1870 where several convicts fled to this area and were eventually caught except for nine of them. Thus they changed the name to Convict Lake. The lake is located just two miles off of the highway. It is not a large lake. It covers 168 acres and is approximately 140 feet deep. The water is a beautiful turquoise color and the lake is totally surrounded by mountains. There is a 2.5 mile loop/hike that you can take. We did not have enough time to complete it but next time. The lake offers camping, trout fishing, hiking and boating. It is very peaceful here within the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountains. So glad we stopped and look forward to coming back and exploring.

Justin M.

Definitely worth the short detour off of the 395 freeway to see. We went here after visiting the geological hot springs on the other side of the 395. Beautiful place.

Jennifer S.

Recently stopped by to check out Convict Lake while I was in the Inyo/Mammoth area. If you Google "what to do in Inyo," this comes up. Convict Lake is a tiny alpine lake hidden up in the Inyo Mountains, basically just across the road from the popular hot springs spots on 395. What really drew me in to this lake was the skyline. The mountains in Inyo have such captivating, interesting tops. When I saw the sign for the turnoff for the lake, I couldn't help but drive up there to see how the mountains looked over the water. Plus, it was almost sunset time. This lake is truly tiny, so maybe for some people, it wouldn't be worth the drive up to see it, but I'm glad I did. The view was so gorgeous and unique. Apparently, you can hike around the lake, and you can also camp here (there is a campground with 85 sites within walking distance), but I did none of that, since I didn't know, and was not prepared. While I was visiting, a group of climbers was playing in the trees. If you look closely, you may be able to spot one of them in one of my photos. This is a very beautiful and serene spot to relax or hang out. Definitely worth driving by to check it out if you're in the area. I believe there was a $5 parking/day use fee, and enough parking spots for about twenty cars.

Nicole R.

I hiked an easy 2.5 miles around Convict Lake and it was stunning!! The mountains surrounding the lake are incredible and they were reflected a bit in the lake since it was morning! There were lots of people there fishing. The lot I parked at had plenty of spots and no fee.

Vivian W.

Google tells me that convict lake is probably the only lake can be assessable by car in winter. Yes, it's true. The spring is easy. The lake is beautiful beside the mountain. The view is spectacular. Nobody here on a windy winter day. We have this whole lake for ourselves! Took a 0.3 miles walk along the lake, it's soothing!

Scenario
Lobak s.

So when I got there, there was a minimum amount of snow. Saw a little beach. Where nice hiking trails. Took pictures with my family. I recommend you should go here. It is very nice here. Leaves were yellow and green

Convict Lake
Darren K.

Definitely worth the slight detour off the 395 to see this beautiful lake and backdrop. Lots of people were trout fishing, standup paddle boarding, or cruising on powerboats. This is now one of my must see stops in the area. I recommend spending a couple hours here weather permitting. Looking forward to seeing it again in the winter!

This guy caught the biggest trout there.(No! It's not a salmon!)
Ray D.

We were there for 1st a couple of weeks ago. Summer time is a great time down here. Went fishing- line broke(oh well!) it's a very gorgeous and scenic lake!

Pole holder!.. my pics going into Convict Lake removed by Yelp HQ..
Amy O.

10/19/2023 I guess when the word spreads how well fishing is here... it gets crowded! On our way down to Bishop, and had some time to throw in a line... Wrong!!! Bumper to bumper and no parking to fish.. Maybe next year.. lol!

Marcus F.

A beautiful lake with a tragic past. If you're looking for a nice 2.5-mile loop hike, then the convict lake is a great option. This hike has mild elevation changes, and some sections are without shade. Probably the biggest obstacle, and maybe the most fun will be hiking over the creek. You should take your shoes off, but it's probably easier just to keep them on and let them dry as you hike. I found it difficult putting my sox back on with wet feet. Water can get up to your knees in one place. There's a parking lot and bathrooms.

Joanna B.

This is one of the most impressive, beautiful lakes I have ever been to. I had no idea what to expect but driving in left my jaw dropped. The scenery is absolutely unreal, like straight out of a movie. I felt like I was in a national park. The lane is beautiful, the mountains are just out of this world. Even growing up in Reno and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevadas, this was an amazing drop in for us and I could just live on this lake forever. Can't wait to come back and spend more time in this gorgeous place

Ed T.

This review is for Convict Lake Loop which was a ~2.5 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Beautiful morning views of the lake and distant mountains. Unfortunately, the trail was flooded halfway so we turned around. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/Nd8uElLNuwE

Me and my son went backpacking to Convict Lake and it was amazing, the fishing was very good there are so many fish to catch, the mountains and the lake are very beautiful. We saw an eagle taking a fish out of the lake .

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10 months ago

Convict lake is simply a breathtaking place to visit as is most of the lakes in the Mammoth area

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1 year ago

Excellent camping, staff in general store at nearby resort were really welcoming. Enjoyed my experience a lot.

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Ask the Community - Convict Lake

How often do they stock the lake with fish?

Like every month

All the campsites I searched were ful, are there places where you can just pop up your tent and camp?

https://tmbtent.com/mammoth-lakes-dispersed-camping/ 100% free

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Review Highlights - Convict Lake

Convict Lake can found on the further end of Mammoth Lakes and is located just off of Highway 395.

Mentioned in 11 reviews

Read more highlights

Earthquake Fault

Earthquake Fault

4.5(30 reviews)
9.1 mi

Really easy to get to, no mosquitos, and not crowded at all. An older gentleman there who I think…read morewas an off duty park Ranger or something told us all about the fault, cases of people falling in, and what to look out for, etc. He said it's more impressive looking from the other side of the main road (going from Mammoth Lakes to Mammoth Mountain), though we couldn't find any signs or trailheads for this part afterwards. Nonetheless this is a pretty neat, quick stop with no hike required to get to it.

I recently stopped by this earthquake fault to check it out while in the Mammoth area. It was easy…read moreto find, and parking was easy. Based on the photos, I was expecting this to be more like a cliff with a tall crack in it. In reality, it's more like a very long ditch. If you're into geology, or if you're super impressed by thinking about the earth splitting open, then maybe you should check this out. Personally, I wasn't very moved by this experience. If you didn't know that this was an earthquake fault, then there would be nothing impressive about it. It's just a very long gorge that is kind of deep in some places. I'm not sure if rappelling into the fault is allowed, but I thought it would be interesting to get a closer up view of some of the rocks and pools on the bottom. Honestly not really worth driving out of your way to see this unless you happen to be a geology fanatic, or are just dead set on seeing every possible sight near Mammoth.

Photos
Earthquake Fault
Earthquake Fault
Earthquake Fault

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Horseshoe Lake - Lake is drying up and this warning sign says it all

Horseshoe Lake

4.3(34 reviews)
9.3 mi

The first time I visited HorseShoe Lake, the lot was packed, and the hike was no joke! I was out of…read moreshape, and there was still a lot of snow on the trail in July! It was tough. My cousin even had a close call when he accidentally slid off the trail, ran down 100 feet, and narrowly missed hitting trees. (Slipper snow) Despite the challenges, the reward at the top was well worth it. It was a beautiful, secluded lake. Some of us tried a little fishing, while the girls jumped into the freezing cold water for a swim. The water was so "pristine" that my hair felt conditioned afterward. It was magnificent, the water felt untouched and almost holy! This past summer, we hiked it again for the 4th of July, and it was so much easier because I had lost 20 pounds, haha! I'd say the hike is about 13 minutes up, around 2 miles round trip, and great for all ages. Just make sure you're in decent shape and don't have any serious health concerns. When I was 20 pounds heavier, the hike felt like a 10/10 in difficulty. Now, it's more like a 3/10, a total breeze!

When you arrive, you see a bunch of dead tree and the waterline really low. Your first impression…read moreis "huh. But as you walk around the lake, you're surrounded by beautiful lush green pines. Small quaint bridges over stream beds. The wind in the trees with a beautiful view of the lake and its surroundings. It's a very easy straight walk. Highly recommend

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Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake - Lots of history here

Lots of history here

Horseshoe Lake

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Ruby Lake - Backpacked to Ruby Lake, 3 days and 2 nights of peace and quiet

Ruby Lake

5.0(4 reviews)
7.5 mi

Breathtaking I…read morewent on a 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip to Ruby Lake located in the John Muir Wilderness. No permit required for day-hiking but you do need a permit to camp. The Forest Service reserves 60 percent of permits for advanced reservations and the other 40 percent are available to walk-ins 24 hours before the day of adventure. Trip Details: 3 days, 2 nights Distance from Venice, CA to Mosquito Flats Trailhead: 302 miles Money spent on gas: $128.62 Time of Year: August Weather: 80's during the day, and 30's at night Permit: no permit for day hiking but a permit is required to camp Elevation gain : 908 feet Distance to Ruby Lake from Trailhead: 2.1 miles Dogs: Dogs are allowed Water Temperature: 39 degrees Day 1: We parked in the parking lot at the beginning of the Mosquito Flats Trailhead at the end of Rock Creek Road. We started our hike around 1:00pm and arrived at Ruby lake at 3:30p. When we got to camp, we setup our tents, jumped in the water and then prepared dinner. The weather during the day was in the 80's with clear skies and a nice breeze. The temperature at night was in the high 30's low 40's with very little wind. The night was bright because of the full moon, very minimal wind noise. Day 2: Hiked to Mono Pass and hungout at summit lake before heading back to camp. Weather was also in the 80's during the day and high 30's/ low 40's at night, very little wind. Day 3: The morning before hiking out was very windy and cold in the morning, we hiked out at 9:30 am.

As the other guys wrote: amazing. A great hike with minimal people contact. I hiked up on Sept 3…read moreand there was still lots of snow leftover from last year. I kept going past Ruby Lake to a second, smaller lake. From there one has easy access to the back country. The parking was a little ugly at the trail head: the masses tend to hike to a larger lake on the valley floor. After this hike and on your way back to Mammoth stop off at one of the hot springs near the airport for a soak. This is what I did and my muscles were very grateful.

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Ruby Lake - View of Ruby Lake on our way up Mono Pass

View of Ruby Lake on our way up Mono Pass

Ruby Lake - Looking down at Ruby lake from the second, higher lake.

Looking down at Ruby lake from the second, higher lake.

Ruby Lake - View of little lakes valley on our way to Ruby lake

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View of little lakes valley on our way to Ruby lake

Convict Lake - hiking - Updated June 2026

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