Convict Lake
Convict Lake is a gorgeous lake, surrounded by mountains, off of Highway 395 near Mammoth Lakes. There is a paved road to the trailhead and the hike around the lake is relatively flat. My wife and I did this hike in the afternoon on our “day off” after having done the brutal Palisade Glacier hike the day before.
This hike was very different in the afternoon than it would be in the morning. We had great views of Mono Jim Peak and Mount Morrison to the southwest, but Laurel Mountain, to the northwest, was completely shaded, muting its characteristic red and cream colors. A morning hike would have better views of Laurel, at the expense of lesser views toward Mono Jim and Morrison.
The trail around the lake is well maintained, with frequent use trails to the lake front. There is a boardwalk through the forest on the west bank of the lake, which was a neat feature. There is a beach on the east side, with several groups fishing and picnicking. It felt less like a hike, and more like an afternoon recreational area. Notably, we passed a trail junction on the far side of the lake with signage to Dorothy Lake, which would be a great full day hike on a future trip.
We ended up doing 3.5 miles around the lake and a little over 400 ft of vertical in 90 minutes. This is a great easy trail and a good option if looking for a 2 hour activity near Mammoth Lakes.
