Horseshoe Lake
A horseshoe-shaped lake at the highest point of the basin, where swimming and hiking are possible. A stand of dead trees on its shore bears witness to volcanic carbon dioxide underground.
Horseshoe Lake sits at the end of the lake road and is one of the few lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin where swimming is allowed. Open sandy beaches and picnic areas line the shore, and the loop trail around the lake is about 2.5 km. On the lake's west shore stands a stretch of dead pines. Since the 1990s, carbon dioxide released by underground magma has seeped up through the soil and killed the trees. Warning signs are posted in the area. Do not linger or camp in low-lying spots or depressions. This is also the trailhead for routes such as McLeod Lake.
Opening hours
About June–October
Nearby sights
- Lake Mamie
- Twin Lakes & Twin Falls
- Lake George & Crystal Lake Trail
- Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
- Lake Mary
- Panorama Gondola & Mammoth Summit
- Mammoth Consolidated Mine
- Duck Pass Trail