Destination On the Road
Shuttle Stop # 1
AGNEW MEADOWS/SHADOW LAKE
A 0.5-mile loop trail for wildflower viewing through July is an
easy walk, but wear plenty of mosquito repellent.
Optionally, a hiker can make the 6.8-mile round-trip trek to a
Sierra gem, Shadow Lake, and enjoy a cool dip in a swim hole off
the trail.
At the shuttle drop, hike 0.4 mile on the dirt road. The signed
trailhead is at the far end of the first dirt parking lot, just past the
pack station.
Note the yellow pond lilies when passing Lake Olaine. After
zigzagging up a hot, dry slope, with Mammoth Mountain at your
back, listen for the roaring waterfall of Shadow Creek just below
Shadow Lake (which is not visible at this location). There’s a
swimming pool at the bottom of the fall, which is off the trail
about 400 feet. It’s a fairly flat, forested area that appears to be an
overnight camping site.
Continue onward to jewel-like Shadow Lake (8,750-ft), which
has photographic opportunities at the outlet with the Ritter Range to
the west.
Stop #2
STARKWEATHER LAKE
At 8,000 feet, there are picnic tables next to the lake, which is
next to the road. This is a popular fishing hangout.
Stop # 6
SODA SPRINGS/DEVILS POSTPILE/MINARET FALLS
From the Devils Postpile Ranger Station, hike about 0.25 mile
on a street-size sandy trail towards the Postpile. Turn right and cross
the bridge over the San Joaquin River. After just a few steps, look
for a reddish soil area on the shoreline’s gravel bank. Check out the
bubbling carbonated water, and thus the name, of Soda Springs.
Backtrack across the bridge to continue 0.2 mile to the dark-gray
basaltic columns. Although the 100,000 year-old vertical posts are
striking, they are but a remnant of the original lava flow left after
glaciers quarried the valley. Worthwhile is the short hike to the
Postpile’s top to examine glacial polish smoothing the columns’
surfaces. Note that not all the columns are 6-sided. Three to seven-
sided jointing can be found, although hexagonal is most common.
In early summer, Minaret Falls cascades down a wide swath.
From the ranger station, hike 0.5 mile north on the John Muir Trail
to sit a spell beside the roaring falls.
Stop # 7
SOTCHER LAKE
A very easy 1.25-mile loop trail begins at the picnic area, where
self-guided tour booklets are available for this nature walk. It circles
the lake, at 7,616 feet, which usually has floating fishermen engaged
with the hunt for trout.
30 July | August 2009 Mammoth Sierra Magazine
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