Hike to Valentine Lake
9.6 Miles
2026 Feet
Hiking
Intermediate
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Out-and-Back
With the fresh mountain air, old growth pines, and stunning lake views, this hike that takes you into the John Muir Wilderness simply cannot be missed. To get to the trailhead is a quick 10-15 minute drive from the Village in Mammoth Lakes.
Park in the Sherwin Creek Camping area. The trailhead is just east of the campground. Begin your ascent through scrubby foliage and old pines. Once you arrive at a junction with a bench, turn around. Alternatively, loop around by the Sherwin Lake. If you do choose to include Sherwin Lake, you're best off departing from the Sherwin Lake trailhead, then hiking this as an out-and-back. If you choose to do a loop, you'll have approximately 2 miles to walk along the road to reach your initial trailhead.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
bring snacks & your fly rod!
Really beautiful hike! It was a good challenge for me, because of the altitude (& a couple switchbacks near the lake). We spent the day at valentine, had sandwiches & caught a bunch of small brookies on a fly rod at the outlet. There was still snow on the mountains (& a little remained on the trail) in the spring, which made for great photos!
