We aren't fishermen and we didn't have a lot of time to enjoy the sites, but the lake and surroundings are beautiful! It was pretty busy and I would imagine that parking can be really difficult in high traffic times, but don't miss an opportunity to take in the beauty here! read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Awesome place one of our favorites up in Mammoth Lakes We had a great time we went to spend the day it's just so beautiful

Convict lake is a must stopover if you're near Mammoth Lake. It's such a beauty and doesn't require a hike to get up-close to an amazing view of the lake! read more

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How anyone can have anything bad to say about this place, I'll never know. I'm guessing that it's primarily high-maintenance city-folk who have absolutely no appreciation for a place as majestic as this. By husband and I were just married on the shores of Convict Lake in Jan. 2013. It was unbelievable. The towering mountains on either side and the frozen lake in the background made it truly feel unreal. And NOT ONLY is the scenery to die for, but the service, SUPERB! Mike made sure that everything ran according to plan. He was there to answer all of our questions and really went above and beyond on the actual wedding day. He also made sure to open up the pub early for our guests to enjoy themselves prior and post ceremony. So, all in all, the scenery and pure beauty of convict lake will take your breath away should you decide to visit, and if you decide to make use of the facilities, be prepared to leave happily with a smile on your face. read more

Convict Lake - Small winter wedding ceremony site....breathtaking! - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!!! We rented Laurel Ridge cabin for my daughters wedding. It was very well equipped, super clean, and the secluded back patio had an awesome view of the mountains. We hosted our rehearsal dinner here and our morning breakfasts for all our guests who had cabins. It was such a great place to gather. Also, if you get up early you get to see the deer. The Convict Lake wedding planner Megan, the maintenance crew, the shuttle service, the check-in people were all super helpful and so friendly, and made our 4 night experience something we will never forget. read more

Nice looking lake, but I didn't have any luck shore fishing. They have a place where you can drop your boat in, and I think you'd have more luck that way. No lake entrance fees, so that's good. I think all baits are okay here, but I could be wrong. What I didn't like is how the shore fishing areas are situated. They make a little enclosure for each little area along the shore, but it's a bit difficult to get up and move around if you want to change spots. I would say it's better for the hike. There isn't that much parking either (I didn't explore far) but just enough to accommodate the people there. read more

Awesome place to fish - bathrooms close by which is always convenient and there's also a store down the way to buy beer chips snacks. This lake has private places to fish but the shade open spaces to fish with no shade which makes it great for any weather condition. I'll defiantly be back read more

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This is a magical and majestic place. Unfortunately, the operators are terrible. We made a pontoon reservation on 10/10 about an hour ahead of time. When we arrived, the wait to get service was 40 minutes as they head only one person in charge of both preparing boats and running payments. When we finally got to the front of the line, we were told "sorry, but we double booked and we don't have a boat for you." Our boat rental was scheduled to be $300 and they offered to give us the same boat the next day for $130. While not ideal, we were okay to do that. We went the next day and had a great time. However, when we got home, they never processed the refund, charging us the full $300. I have reached out to them multiple times with no response. So I disputed with my CC company and they are fighting that as well. read more

Beautiful lake! Must stopby if you are around Mammoth area! You can enjoy fall colors around october. Goof for fishing!!! read more

Convict Lake - Beautiful lake on October. Clear water.. fall leaves... - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

I love this place. Beautiful. We've kayaked twice, both times spending at least two hours paddling around on the water. It's extremely relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable. One can rent stand-up paddleboards or motorized party boats as well. But even with these on the water, it never feels like they are intruding or that our peace and quiet are being destroyed. Fun experience. The restaurant here is excellent as well. read more

Probably my favorite lake in eastern sierras. This lake is always beautiful. It does get a steady flow of tourists and can get busy. Its nice to stop in when its real early or when the weather is not perfect and to see if with less people. read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

beautiful location, good fishing nearby and beautiful place to just stop and take photos, or do a quick picnic. Do take advantage of the restaurant here if you have the time, it has a great reputation in the area. There is also RV camping near here too, which we haven't done, but it looks like a nice area. read more

Love fishing here when we are staying in Mammoth area. The scenery is so calming when you're getting away from the city life. You can fish from shore, on a boat or in a tube. Also, creek fishing is grea read more

There are no hours on their website for the Aspen Grill. It says the Aspen Grill serves breakfast and lunch. We arrived at 2:10pm to have lunch in our way into Mammoth. The sign for food said "open" but when we went inside we were told it was closed. The person working was nice enough to check if they could take one more order but we were told they would not accommodate us and we're closed. It would helpful if hours of operation were posted online read more

Awesome place to rent a pontoon and enjoy a day on the lake. Rylan is the best deck hand ever!!!!

A great place to catch fish or just fish.... after all, isn't that the point? I made a solo trip and enjoyed the fishing, friendly people surrounded by mountains in a great setting. I'll loyal now... read more

There's not too many spots to relax on. There are few places to sit on a "beach", so unless you want to hike or go in the water, they rent boats,you can fish and swimming is too cold, there's a small area to relax Do not go when it's windy, you'll have little to do. There is a hidden tree swing if you can find it, hang on! It's truly beautiful with the mountain backdrop. If you cannot find parking, go to the left and follow it around. read more

Stunning place to take a short hike, chill out, and look at nature stuff (i.e. fish, birds, trees, mountains, stones, flowers, etc.) while you're winding down from a weekend in Mammoth. From skipping rocks (or the attempt) to fishing in frigid waters, you'll see people participating in a few various activities on Convict Lake. We went early November and though there isn't much snow yet, the views are still breathtaking. The still lake reflects the surrounding mountains and the trail that encompasses it allows you to cross through the trees and wooden man-made bridges. You'll also notice twisted, tangled tree trunks that wrap through the path which I found to be unusual, but beautiful. The trail around the entire lake is maybe 3 miles? You may also run into several people out walking their dogs! (A huge plus, if you ask me.) Definitely want to head back here when it's colder and blanketed with soft, fresh snow. read more

This place is a postcard waiting to happen... Seriously its beyond gorgeous. To put it simply all this lake is, is a body of clear ice cold water below looming mountains on three sides with massive boulders around the edge of most of the water. There view is just breathtaking. Pro Tip: Come here to fish and for world class dining. Seriously there is a super high end restaurant that you can wear jeans to here ;) However the best reason to come here is simply to have your breathe stolen by the gorgeousness of it. It is definitely without a doubt one of the most gorgeous places that I have ever been to. If you don't know the story of how the lake got its name it is kind of interesting. It was due to a bunch of escaped inmates from Nevada ambushing a posse in 1871. They were able to escape after killing a couple of the posse members. They were later apprehended elsewhere. But they had holed up at Convict Lake for a bit, thus it gots its name. I highly suggest you check this place out sometime if you are in the Mammoth area, be it summer sping winter or fall its always gorgeous. ;) read more

A sparkling lake in a statuesque geologic setting, Convict Lake, named after a gang of inmates who escaped from prison in Carson City and shot their way out of a posse's ambush here in 1871, was also the site of a disastrous group drowning. We visited Convict Lake to walk around its 2.5 mile shoreline, think about the lost, gaze into the glistening waters, and fathom the forces that fashioned this striking scene. Geologically, Laurel Mountain (11,812') and Mt. Morrison (12,268) towering over Convict Lake are roof pendants of contorted sedimentary rocks, that dangle like necklaces from the younger granite that intruded on them to form the Sierra Nevada range. The lake is a 138-foot deep tarn, which is a glacially sculpted bowl, dammed by a terminal moraine, and filled to the brim with crystal-clear snow-melt. The clarity and color of Convict Lake cast a spell as we stared deep into its troubled waters and contemplated it's calamitous past. In the winter of 1990, 3 teens and 4 would-be rescuers fell through thin ice and drowned, 200 yards from shore. As reported by the L.A. Times, "What began as a frantic effort to save three drowning youths and their two counselors deteriorated into a perilous struggle by rescuers to save each other." With a heavy heart, I give Convict Lake 4 stars. Stars are awarded for the ease of access and multiple amenities (trail, store, resort, boat rentals, fishing, etc.), exceptional geology, and pristine yet melancholy waters. An additional star is dedicated to the seven who fell through the ice here and could not be saved. read more

I spent a few days at Convict lake all by myself fishing. BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL! I caught one fish and the guy at the dock was super nice and offered good fishing information. I will definitely be back. read more

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Even in the shuddering cold of wintertime, this place is an absolute dream. Do yourself a favor? leave the vehicle and cell phones behind. Take a moment to appreciate the insane amount of beauty mother nature has so perfectly designed for our enjoyment. There's nothing quite like Convict Lake. read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

So I hate to give a two-star rating to a Mammoth-area lake, but if one of them's got to get a negative rating, it's gotta be Convict Lake. Fishing here feels very much like fishing at a Southern California reservoir. Why? Because there are so few trees for cover. I've only been here a couple of times, mainly because my dad absolutely hates this place, and I don't think we had much luck fishing here the times we came. I don't remember why it's called Convict Lake, but one scary/sad/interesting historical fact about it is that a half-dozen or so people died here in the late '80s or early '90s. One of the kids from a youth camp for troubled teenagers fell through the ice into the lake, and when someone (I think a counselor) tried to save him or her, the counselor fell in too. By the end of it, I think six or seven people ended up dying. That's really sad and scary. I remember this story from when it happened, and they also told us about it when I was training for my job, which is working with troubled teenagers. Yet another reason to fear our yearly summer camp, although we don't come here. read more

Beautiful clear lake with easy access off the 395. I stop here often on my way to mammoth to see the way the scenery of the greenery changes with the season. It's a beautiful place for photo's. I love the towering grey peaks surrounding the lake. Because I'm a Star Trek Nerd it's also cool that a part of the movie Star Trek Generations was filmed here. One day I'd like to return to do some fishing. The water is so crystal clear. The fish have to be yummy, delicious, healthy catches....yup always thinking about food. read more

Convict Lake - Fall at convict lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

I had been coming to Convict Lake for thirty years. Sad to say I will not be back. While the campground and lake are beautiful it has become a place for people to play rather then fish and enjoy quiet camping. This last time we went, people came over to where I was fishing and started playing in the creek right next to me. This happened all week long. The resort had parties for several days in a row with rap music blaring all over the campground. People are riding their bikes and skateboards up down the access road to the campground its a wonder no one has been hit by an R.V. as the road is very narrow. People walk right through my campsite as if they didn't know it was there. I love Convict Lake but it is now impossible to enjoy it as it once was, the best fishing experience in the Sierras. read more

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Loved visiting Convict Lake which is so close to Mammoth Lakes! A great gem nearby with hikes and incredible views. I would highly recommend stopping here, you will not regret it! read more

If you're looking to get in some decent fishing, but aren't too keen on the crowds in Crowley or some of the other Mammoth lakes, Convict might be the ticket. Convict Lake is just south of the major Mammoth Lake area, down the 395 freeway. It's nice and secluded, in my opinion. It's also got good fishing (lake and creek). A campground is available for the hardcore outdoorsmen/women, but they've also got bungalows and cabins for those less inclined. From what I hear, the Convict Lake restaurant is pretty good, too. As far as fishing goes, the people I've spoken with say to head to the far part of the lake (away from the campground, cabins, and restaurant) for better fishing. Of course, you can always use a boat, but the hike around the lake is nice (if you're more daring). The DFG keeps this lake pretty well-stocked (as they do with most of the Mammoth lakes), so you're pretty sure to catch something. Personally, I like fishing the creek. It beats the monotony of sitting on the shore waiting for a nibble. Happy camping/fishing! read more

This is a nice lake to bring the whole family. The lake offers some benches with fire pits for BBQing the catch of the day. The fish here on a whole are pretty small catches, but you can see some really big ones once awhile in the semi-enclosed area where spectators can view fish in a aquariumlike setting. Awesome place to hike. Be careful of bears though. It's rare but they do come to this area. The views are incredible. When you see the rays of sun hit the lake it's so peaceful. Sunrises and sunsets here are pretty dramatic and pretty cool! read more

Been going to Mammoth since the 80's and first time ventured to Convict. It is spectacular!! We rented one of the 18' pontoons with a bbq and enjoyed a really nice afternoon. Dave in the shop was very helpful! More then anything Convict was quiet and peaceful! A treasure which hopefully will remain for generations to come. Spring time allowed us to spend a few hours at Mammoth with plenty of time for a 1-7pm perfect afternoon on the lake! read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Easy and short hike! About 10 minutes from Mammoth Lake. Directions: From Mammoth Lakes - Driving down 395N (towards Bishop) you'll see a sign on the right that says Convict Lake. Keep driving down the road until you see a parking lot right next to the lake. There's two parking lots - one next to the dock or if you drive a little further there's a second one. There's restrooms all around the area as well. The hike itself is about 2-3 miles circling around the lake. It's super scenic and the trail is very easy. It's pretty flat and even paved in some areas. It took us about an hour (including the like 20 or so minutes we spent taking photos) to complete the hike. read more

This used to be my families favorite place to go fishing but unfortunately our trip there this week changed that. When we used to go there were no swimmers anywhere unfortunately that has changed. Now there are tons of swimmers. They go to the best fishing spots on the lake to swim like the inlet in the back of the lake. You have children jumping into the water and screaming because it is cold and the dogs swimming in the water. We were unable to find a nice quiet spot to fish. It is sad how much this has changed because it was always such a nice peaceful lake to go fishing at. All fishermen beware of the changes that have occurred at this once awesome lake. read more

So pretty n refreshing with the snowed mountain at the background of the lake ..very serene n relaxing..u jus wanna live here read more

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Such a beautiful lake with awesome views. Great place for pictures. We didn't fish or hike during our visit but other people were and they all looked like they were having a great time :) read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Finally decided to stop by this lake after years of traveling to and from Mammoth lakes. I'm glad we did! It's no lake Alberta but such a beautiful place nonetheless for a detour. Parking was easy. I would imagine that would not be the case in summer since it's a small place for public parking. read more

Convict Lake - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Wow! Jaw dropping views which more than make up for if you don't catch any fish. Weekends are definitely busy here, and the sun can be quite intense so make sure to get a shady fishing spot! read more

If you want a pleasant 3 mi hike and see the fall colors in October this is a very easy hike with lots of Aspens on one end of the lake. There are rest rooms on one end of the lake near the small marina. read more

I know nothing about fishing but the hiking there was absolutely wonderful. We arrived in the middle of a wind/snow storm and camped the night... It was a LOT of fun and a great drive from the Los Angeles area. read more

Great place to bring the kids and pets and hike and just take in Mother Nature. Along my solo hike I spotted 4-5 deer easily they were doing their thing so I threaded lightly on the path so to not disturb them. These simple things in life are easily taken for granted. When you need and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life come and enjoy this calm and serene place! read more

Beautiful lake with a nice 2.8 mile trail all the way around. Dog friendly! Boat rentals available. When the trees are changing, usually early October, it's a perfect time to go. There is a hike out of Convict which goes up to Mildred, it was strenuous, but stunning! read more

Convict Lake - Mildred - Hiking Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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One of the most beautiful and serene places I have been. We were working in mammoth for a week, which meant we could only explore after 5pm. So we needed a short hike that we could fit in before sunset. We arrive around 6:15 and hiked around the entire lake, stopping a bit to take it in, and back to our car by 7:45. This was the perfect short evening hike. We also so about a dozen vintage Honda 110 bikes scattered around and figure they must be rented out somewhere. If anyone knows how/where to get them, please reply!! read more