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Spectacular views of Mono Lake from a steep canyon right outside Yosemite National Park.


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Map Key

4.7

Miles

7.5

KM

Point to Point

10,629' 3,240 m

High

7,970' 2,429 m

Low

423' 129 m

Up

2,708' 825 m

Down

13%

Avg Grade (7°)

57%

Max Grade (30°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Description

The trail begins to descend gently on the far side of Mono Pass and soon approaches Upper and Lower Sardine Lakes. These isolated, high alpine lakes seem to attract a lot of hungry mosquitoes!

The trail then descends very steeply through the huge rocky canyon sandwiched between Mount Lewis and Mount Gibbs. It is called Bloody Canyon because of all the injuries to horses and mules that used this route before wagon roads were built. Watch your footing, but be sure to also raise your eyes to the distant views of dazzlingly blue Mono Lake on the dry plains far below.

The Bloody Canyon Trail eventually enters forest again near Walker Lake and terminates at Sawmill Canyon Road.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tilman Giese with improvements by Bill Thoms

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#2044

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#226

in California

#2,044

Overall
2 Views Last Month
1,409 Since Sep 24, 2019
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Photos

Mono Lake and Walker Lake from just below Lower Sardine Lake
Sep 26, 2019 near Mammoth…, CA
Yellow aspen on a sunny fall day
Sep 26, 2019 near Mammoth…, CA
Sardine Lake and distant Mono Lake.
Sep 24, 2015 near Mammoth…, CA
Alpine meadow and lake near Mono Pass.
Sep 24, 2015 near Mammoth…, CA
Mono Lake viewed from the east side of Mono Pass.
Oct 19, 2018 near Mammoth…, CA
Walker Lake and Mono Lake
Sep 26, 2019 near Mammoth…, CA

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Oct 13, 2018
Tilman Giese
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