A Morning at the Private Sanctuary Video (07182026)

"MAMMOTH LAKES
#EasternSierra #DuckPass #DeerPass #MammothCrest #MammothLakes #CaliforniaHiking #SierraNevada #Backpacking #DayHike #OutdoorFilmmaking #DoosView
A 22-mile hike through Duck Pass, Deer Pass, and Mammoth Crest in Mammoth Lakes, California, located in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada.

This hike connects three of the most beautiful areas in the Mammoth Lakes region: Duck Pass, Deer Pass, and Mammoth Crest.

While many hikers turn around at Duck Lake, the scenery becomes even more remote beyond Duck Pass. The route travels through alpine lakes, granite basins, open ridgelines, and several off-trail sections before reaching Mammoth Crest. It is a long and demanding hike, but one of the most rewarding day hikes in the Eastern Sierra.

Trail Information

📍 Location: Mammoth Lakes, California, USA

🥾 Route
: Duck Pass Trailhead → Duck Pass → Deer Pass → Mammoth Crest → Lake George Trailhead → Duck Pass Trailhead

📏 Distance: 21.9 miles (35.2 km)

⛰️ Elevation Gain: 4,200 ft (1,280 m)

🏔️ Highest Elevation: 11,271 ft (3,435 m)

⏱️ Total Time: 14 hours 30 minutes

⭐ Difficulty: Strenuous

Long distance, high elevation, off-trail sections, and route finding required.


Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:00 Entering John Muir Wilderness
01:22 Emerald Lake
02:17 Skeleton Lake
03:36 Barney Lake
04:55 Switchbacks (Barney Lake Overlook)
06:24 Duck Pass
06:42 Duck Lake
09:36 Duck Lake Shore
11:45 Back to Duck Pass
12:58 Deer Pass
14:57 Upper Deer Lake
15:56 Middle Deer Lake
16:10 Lower Deer Lake
17:36 Sierra Nevada Panoramic View
18:49 Mammoth Crest
21:27 Lake George & Lake Mary View
22:33 Looking Back at Mammoth Crest


Trail Notes

Duck Lake is the most popular destination, but the real adventure begins beyond Duck Pass.

The route between Duck Pass and Deer Pass includes sections - without a defined trail. A GPS device or navigation app is highly
recommended.

Several short snowfields remained in mid-June.
The climb back toward Mammoth Crest is the most physically demanding section of the hike.

Mammoth Crest offers one of the best panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada.

There is a long exposed section with very limited water between Deer Pass and Mammoth Crest. Carry enough water before continuing.
Conditions shown in this video were recorded in mid-June.