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Laurel Lakes Off-Roading Trail Report

LOCATION: LAUREL LAKES, INYO NATIONAL FOREST

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DISTANCE: 13.3 MILES

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ASCENT: 3,079 FEET

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TERRAIN: MOUNTAINS

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DIFFICULTY RATING: 4/10

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ROAD MATERIAL: DIRT AND ROCK- SOME MODERATE SIZED BOULDERS

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GRADIENT: MODERATELY STEEP

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TRAIL MAINTENANCE: MOSTLY MAINTAINED

 

OBSTACLES: THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AN OBSTACLE IS THE SWITCHBACK ABOVE THE LAKE. WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT FOR FULL SIZE TRUCKS, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM FOR MID SIZED RIGS.

NAVIGATION: EASY- THE TRAIL IS CLEAR AND IT WOULD BE FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO GET OFF-TRAIL

 

CROWDS: THIS IS A VERY POPULAR TRAIL THAT CAN GET CROWDED, ESPECIALLY ON SUMMER WEEKENDS. THERE ARE GENERALLY FAR FEWER PEOPLE ON WEEKDAYS AND IN THE FALL. 

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KEY COORDINATES:

  • STARTING POINT- TURNOFF FROM HIGHWAY 395: 37.636593, -118.893646

  • LAUREL LAKE: ​35.57640, -118.91322

  • ENDING POINT- SAME AS STARTING POINT

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OUR TAKE: IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THIS TRAIL IS SO POPULAR. IT'S A FUN DRIVE AND THE LAKE AT THE END IS GORGEOUS. BRING YOUR KAYAKS, PADDLE BOARDS, FLOATIES, BUT BE WARNED THE WATER IS CHILLY. THERE ARE VERY FEW CAMPSITES AROUND THE LAKE THAT ARE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE WATER AND/OR ESTABLISHED LOCATIONS THAT CAMPING IS PERMISSIBLE. THERE ARE SOME OFFSHOOT TRAILS ON THE WAY TO THE LAKE, SO IF ALL THE SITES SURROUNDING THE LAKE ARE FULL, YOU CAN BACKTRACK AND FIND A CAMPSITE OFF ONE OF THE OTHER TRAILS IN THE AREA. BEING AT A DECENT ELEVATION, IT CAN GET COLD AT NIGHT. BRING LOTS OF WARM LAYERS AND DON'T RELY ON A CAMPFIRE TO KEEP YOU WARM AS THERE ARE OFTEN FIRE BANS DUE TO THE HIGH FIRE RISK IN THE AREA.

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