Convict Lake

Visited Convict Lake in Mammoth and did the loop hike around the lake—absolutely amazing! The trail is easy and relaxing, offering stunning visuals of the crystal-clear lake surrounded by dramatic mountain backdrops. Every turn gives you a new angle that’s picture-perfect. The reflections on the water are gorgeous, and the peaceful atmosphere makes it a must-do whether you’re hiking, fishing, or just soaking in the views. A true gem in the Mammoth area!

Beautiful lake, several bathrooms, and informative and helpful boat rental center. The lake loop hike, if done counter clockwise around the lake, starts with little shade and fairly even terrain, before becoming shaded with a few small, shallow stream crossings at an approximate half way point. After this, the terrain becomes slightly more difficult, with much more up and down hill spots. Overall an easy hike. There is a small section of fairly well maintained accessible trail along the eastern, southeastern edge of the lake.

Beautiful lake in midst of mountains. Perfect gateway for peace and family picnic

Beautiful lake, super easy access, here is how it looks on oct 16 2025, such a wonderful foliage

Literally the most beautiful lake I've ever seen. I cannot wait to come back here again.

We visited Mammoth Lakes early January and everything place around was so pristine and pretty including the convict lake.

Convict Lake in the fall is breathtaking! We did the short 2.5 mile walk around the lake and were surrounded by beauty the entire time. Highly recommend !

Love this place. Great for fishing in summer and had fun in the snow time.

Beautiful lake off the Highway 395. I felt so lucky to find a parking space in front of the lake where the boat launch was! It was such a beautiful sight of the mountains and the lake. Nice place to take a walk with family and friends!

I visit Convict Lake every year because it's just so beautiful! No wonder those escaped prisoners years ago stayed here! You cannot resist such a beautiful lake with the mountain backdrop. Okay, the parking is terrible but if you're patient and parking lot pimpin', there will be an open spot for you! The water is freezing here in the summer but that is why I love it so much! I love being the 1 out of 3 people who swims here lol. If you want to fish here, I promise there's no fish here. We can never catch anything here! 10/10 will always visit again.

We have driven by this exit plenty of times while traveling on Highway 395. A couple of weeks ago, we finally had the time and opportunity to check out this mountain lake. Such a stunning and serene lake created from mountain snow run off. The lakes history is quite interesting. It was originally called Mt. Diablo Lake, but there was a huge prison outbreak in 1870 where several convicts fled to this area and were eventually caught except for nine of them. Thus they changed the name to Convict Lake. The lake is located just two miles off of the highway. It is not a large lake. It covers 168 acres and is approximately 140 feet deep. The water is a beautiful turquoise color and the lake is totally surrounded by mountains. There is a 2.5 mile loop/hike that you can take. We did not have enough time to complete it but next time. The lake offers camping, trout fishing, hiking and boating. It is very peaceful here within the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountains. So glad we stopped and look forward to coming back and exploring.

Definitely worth the short detour off of the 395 freeway to see. We went here after visiting the geological hot springs on the other side of the 395. Beautiful place.

Recently stopped by to check out Convict Lake while I was in the Inyo/Mammoth area. If you Google "what to do in Inyo," this comes up. Convict Lake is a tiny alpine lake hidden up in the Inyo Mountains, basically just across the road from the popular hot springs spots on 395. What really drew me in to this lake was the skyline. The mountains in Inyo have such captivating, interesting tops. When I saw the sign for the turnoff for the lake, I couldn't help but drive up there to see how the mountains looked over the water. Plus, it was almost sunset time. This lake is truly tiny, so maybe for some people, it wouldn't be worth the drive up to see it, but I'm glad I did. The view was so gorgeous and unique. Apparently, you can hike around the lake, and you can also camp here (there is a campground with 85 sites within walking distance), but I did none of that, since I didn't know, and was not prepared. While I was visiting, a group of climbers was playing in the trees. If you look closely, you may be able to spot one of them in one of my photos. This is a very beautiful and serene spot to relax or hang out. Definitely worth driving by to check it out if you're in the area. I believe there was a $5 parking/day use fee, and enough parking spots for about twenty cars.

I hiked an easy 2.5 miles around Convict Lake and it was stunning!! The mountains surrounding the lake are incredible and they were reflected a bit in the lake since it was morning! There were lots of people there fishing. The lot I parked at had plenty of spots and no fee.

One of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Mammoth area. This lake is located just a few miles off the 395, maybe 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes. We were in the off season and parking was free, but limited. I'd suggest getting there early. One of the unique features of this lake was a trail all the way around it-approximately 3 miles. Relatively flat and easy. To see the lake from various views just added to the specialness. A lot of fishermen say the lake has good trout fishing. We only experienced the happy cheers of people on a boat with their catches! There are placards with information on how the lake received its name as well as a sad historical event that took place there. This lake is worth a look if you're in the area!

So when I got there, there was a minimum amount of snow. Saw a little beach. Where nice hiking trails. Took pictures with my family. I recommend you should go here. It is very nice here. Leaves were yellow and green

Beautiful hiking spot around Convict Lake. There were many people fishing for trout, day camping, having lunch, or taking a stroll around the lake. The water was chilly but really refreshing. The shore area had many stones and rocks to pass over to get into the water. I suggest using water shoes to get into and out of the water. Some of the rocks had natural algae which can be slippery.

We were there for 1st a couple of weeks ago. Summer time is a great time down here. Went fishing- line broke(oh well!) it's a very gorgeous and scenic lake!

Definitely worth the slight detour off the 395 to see this beautiful lake and backdrop. Lots of people were trout fishing, standup paddle boarding, or cruising on powerboats. This is now one of my must see stops in the area. I recommend spending a couple hours here weather permitting. Looking forward to seeing it again in the winter!

Google tells me that convict lake is probably the only lake can be assessable by car in winter. Yes, it's true. The spring is easy. The lake is beautiful beside the mountain. The view is spectacular. Nobody here on a windy winter day. We have this whole lake for ourselves! Took a 0.3 miles walk along the lake, it's soothing!

10/19/2023 I guess when the word spreads how well fishing is here... it gets crowded! On our way down to Bishop, and had some time to throw in a line... Wrong!!! Bumper to bumper and no parking to fish.. Maybe next year.. lol!

Convict lake is simply a breathtaking place to visit as is most of the lakes in the Mammoth area

With easy access, this attraction is a serene and spectacular example of a lake from mountain icepack run-off. There are fishing and water activities available. The water is cold and crisp. Parking is not plenty, but enough. Summer months are busy, but end-of-season and fall-season visits are ideal. Winter season visits will have limited amenities, but will give you a completely different beautiful view. Camping is allowed, but do check the NPS site for further information and updates of availability.

Visited the lake on 8/26/25. Public restrooms absolutely filthy ! flies , s..t on the walls toilet paper everywhere. Disgusting. Oh, and the dog s..t on the loop trail !!!! I only went as far as hangman tree. I've been visiting for 26 years. this is my last visit. Filthy and trashy.

Beautiful spot camping, fishing, restaurant, showers, bar, boats. They have it all here from the camping you can walk to the store or the lake. The camp host are friendly and keep up the camp sites and bathrooms. Everyone is respectful we left all our stuff out and nothing was touched. Don't forget to put all your stuff away yogi bear is looking for food. He got our ice chest the was bear proof and opened it like a can opener. He must be like 4 or 5 feet on all four legs. Great place make reservations in advance or the have like 2 first cone....

A beautiful lake with a tragic past. If you're looking for a nice 2.5-mile loop hike, then the convict lake is a great option. This hike has mild elevation changes, and some sections are without shade. Probably the biggest obstacle, and maybe the most fun will be hiking over the creek. You should take your shoes off, but it's probably easier just to keep them on and let them dry as you hike. I found it difficult putting my sox back on with wet feet. Water can get up to your knees in one place. There's a parking lot and bathrooms.

This is one of the most impressive, beautiful lakes I have ever been to. I had no idea what to expect but driving in left my jaw dropped. The scenery is absolutely unreal, like straight out of a movie. I felt like I was in a national park. The lane is beautiful, the mountains are just out of this world. Even growing up in Reno and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevadas, this was an amazing drop in for us and I could just live on this lake forever. Can't wait to come back and spend more time in this gorgeous place

This review is for Convict Lake Loop which was a ~2.5 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Beautiful morning views of the lake and distant mountains. Unfortunately, the trail was flooded halfway so we turned around. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/Nd8uElLNuwE

Me and my son went backpacking to Convict Lake and it was amazing, the fishing was very good there are so many fish to catch, the mountains and the lake are very beautiful. We saw an eagle taking a fish out of the lake .

I'm hooked, like for reels! One of my favorite spots so far at Mammoth Lakes! Parking, restrooms, and trash bins right by the lake. You can hike 3 miles clock/counterclockwise (takes about 1 hour). Personally, I would start from the right side facing the lake; that way you'll have the sun and warm up for the cold/snowy side. There are some neat little creeks to hop over and a boardwalk in between trees. Some cliffs on the cold side and lots of dookie with berries. Great fishing and camping spot.

Excellent camping, staff in general store at nearby resort were really welcoming. Enjoyed my experience a lot.

My husband and his dad had some of their very best days on this lake, so of course he'd want to make memories on the same lake with our daughter. We were staying in a nearby cabin, so it's a very short drive from there to the lake. The parking lot is small so early morning arrival is recommended. We rented a pontoon boat, the staff really takes their time in going over things with you and they're super nice. This lake is small and sadly we didn't catch any fish while on the boat, but we did catch fish in a little spot we found by foot on our last day there. There's a nice walkway that goes around the lake also. It stormed on one of our days on the lake and it was so nice to take in the weather. Boats are also dog friendly, our little dog loved being on the boat. We love this little lake and we can't wait to go back!

Absolutely stunning scenery, just minutes from Mammoth. Loved the 2 mile walk all around the lake. Our dog was happy to take a swim in the clear water, from the sandy/pebble beach, at half way point.

This was a beautiful lake! There's also a trail you can walk around and bring your dogs. Be considerate and please keep your dogs on a leash. One owner's dog was off leash and ran up to us with no warning. Our female dog doesn't do well with unexpected dogs coming up to her. I wish we had a boat when we came but we were still able to find a spot on the side and fish. It's very pretty and peaceful. We saw many others fishing but no one catching at the end of November and people were walking on the trail too. I would love to come back in the summer time. In November it was still lovely and felt cool. There's parking by the lake as well! Overall a great spot to see in Mammoth.

Unlike most alpine lakes require effort (hiking) to reach, Convict Lake got to be one of most accessible high altitude lake. From 395, turn to Convict Road and within 10 mins (approx 2 miles) drive you will arrive at the destination, Convict Lake. There are few points to access the loop trail from different parking sites. At the start of the trail the sign read "accessible trail said 0.3 miles", however, AllTrails listed it a 2.5 miles loop with 177 ft elevation gain and rated as "Easy" for all skill level. I didn't finish the loop as the weather wasn't the greatest, the wind gusted occasionally turning the water into a ferocious monster...the awe of nature...

Beautiful place to visit. You can walk the three mile trail around the lake in less than an hour while enjoying the beautiful view of glistening lake with the snow laden mountain backdrop. At midpoint of the trail closest to the mountain, the trail goes from dirt to paved and you will walk above the streams that flow from the mountain to the lake. It's a great trek and worth the time.

Ahh Convict Lake, you are so temperamental, much like the violent criminals that created your namesake. You can be placid and calm one minute, then torrid and violent the next with 50-mile-an-hour winds that blow over sunshades and destroy everyone's tents. Of course, Convict Lake is also extremely beautiful so it can be forgiven for such poor behavior. Its pure, crystal-clear waters are fed by glacial snow runoff from the beautiful mountains that surround it. Early in the morning, the lake is glassy and mirror-smooth, making for some awesome views and great photography opportunities. Fishing can be good, though not as much as it once was because so many people fish now. There are amazing little beaches and places to hang out during the day. At night, the stars are absolutely brilliant with no light pollution, so you can see millions of stars and the arm of the Milky Way galaxy in all its glory. When we camped here, the comet NEOWISE was in the western sky and was truly amazing. You can rent pontoon and fishing boats from the small marina near the lake entrance to cruise out on the water. They also have a launch ramp if you have your own boat. Five stars and totally worth visiting if you are going to Mammoth.

Beautiful, chilly, and absolutely worth visiting and taking a dip! 10/10 would freeze my tail off again.

We have been going to Convict Lake since our kids were little. Now, we are taking our teen grandsons. I haven't been there for a few years and was really looking forward to it. The reservation system sucks! Because of it, people take almost all of the spaces way in advance. The web site says half of the sights are first come, first served. That is not true. We got lucky and got the last open site when we arrived on a Sunday morning. As someone else stated, I have never seen it so crowded. We arrived at 8:30 AM and every parking space in the day use was taken. There were huge families all over and rehab groups. It sucked for trying to fish. The campground hosts were the best I have ever experienced. The two guys running around were very pleasant and helpful. They kept the campground exceptionally clean. Keep these guys forever. Fishing sucked because even though the Fish and Game site says they planted fish, I was told by several workers that there had not been any fish planting in a long time. Convict Lake is beautiful but it is getting over crowded and nothing like it use to be. If you plan to go, reserve your site a long time in advance.

We hiked the lake loop. It was a fairly easy hike with lots of shade. You do have to cross a few streams but there's logs and rocks to step over. Your shoes might get wet though so prep for that. We went june 2023 and there's was still some parts of the trail covered with snow so we had to climb over that. Over all very family friendly hike, we saw some families with very small kids and also lots of dogs. The views are breathtaking. I kept seeing people say to get there early...well "early" is different for everyone- so for reference on off season we got there at 8am and still found parking...by the time we left at around 11 am all parking lots were full and it was crowded.

This was one of the best experiences! The lake is absolutely gorgeous, clear blue green water you can see right to the bottom of the lake. Small parking lot can get pretty busy. The customer service was awesome!!!! Very efficient, friendly, courteous, what a great experience this made for us. You order your kayak, boat, paddle board, pontoon and they have it cleaned and ready for you. They go through all the safety protocol and supply you with a radio in case of emergencies or just in general to have if you need to contact them. The lake is not big, but is perfect for swimming, fishing, hiking around, or just relaxing. Highly recommend.

We made a quick pit stop at Convict lake heading home from Mammoth lakes. It is about two miles from highway 395 and a must see if your in or passing the area. Theres a loop hike you can do and the Lake offers camping and lodging. The color of the lake makes it one of my local favorites.

very nice, beautiful lake. Dog loves swimming in the water. Very good for fishing. Recommend going.

Gorgeous location that I was so excited to share with my family that had never been. Unfortunately the horse riders shared the same trail EVERYONE walks on. So, half the time we were trying to walk over fresh horse shit. My dog was doing what dogs do and of course walked all over it. They should be on their own trail or have those sacks that catch the poop. So disappointed

This is a wonderful place to stop and spend some time if you are driving up through Highway 395. I've stopped to admire the lake and the surrounding view of the mountains numerous times before, but on this most recent visit I decided to hike all the way around the trail that surrounds the lake. You can park anywhere and then take the trail in either direction. It seems most people do it in a clockwise direction, but I'm not sure whether it matters. The sign in the parking area says the trail is 3 miles, and it took me approximately one hour to complete. The views are magnificent. I was fortunate enough to see a few deer grazing alongside the trail while I was there. Also, be aware that at the far end of the lake you will be walking on a raised boardwalk, as there are a number of streams coming down from the mountains that you will need to cross. This boardwalk makes it quite enjoyable, and there is no need to worry about getting your feet wet stepping into the streams.

We were up 7900 feet two days ago and my daughter showed me the lake where she was having her outside wedding. She said, "Well Dad, we don't have to pay for decorations! Her wedding had a magnificent lake and mountain background. The temperature was a sunny 49 degrees and there was 23 mph winds, It will snow in two days! She was lucky because I thought I was going to walk her down the aisle in snow shoes!

Beautiful lake, but it's crowded because people are treating it like a beach. Shit, we were trying to fish and this big ass family decided they wanted to launch their paddle board right next to us and then we watched this family on their pontoon boat jumping into the water right in front of us probably scaring all the damn fish. WTF! I'm happy everyone wants to have fun, but so do I. Maybe they should have a beach area for them so we can catch some damn fish. Won't be back until fall or after opening season next year. Oh yeah we didn't catch shit.

Loved this place! Off the beaten track. Historical site with a grisly past. Scenic hike around the lake that is fairly easy. Once you get to the backside of the lake (the western end) you come across a beautiful birch forest with an amazing stream that runs through it that feeds the lake with fresh water. I imagine it is quite a glorious site in spring with the snow melt. They put a lot of effort to make this a nice hiking area. The trail is nice all the way around the lake. Great fishing spots and it seems like a nice area to camp and boat. Not very crowded on this August weekend and it is high enough in elevation to be a great spot to beat the heat.

It's such a beautiful lake. This is my third time being here and every time I'm so happy to be here. So worth the 5 hour drive. It's only about 10 minutes from the town of Mammoth Lake. Colors of the Fall are all around the lake. Yellow and red leaves complement the turquoise color of the water. It's peaceful being surrounded by honeyed leaves , turquoise water and the gorgeous eastern Sierra mountains . It was super duper windy here today. Very cold, I'm glad I had a down jacket. I've only been here during October, but I'd love to explore the Convict Lake Loop Trail during spring or summer. It's only a 3 mile loop . You can hike to Mildred Lake from here also and it's 4.5 mile hike. Mother Nature at its finest.

This is just a beautiful lake to visit when you go to the Mammoth Lakes area. They have fishing and boating, and also a hiking trail that goes around the lake. It is simply beautiful around the fall time or during early winter. I highly recommend taking your camera and just taking in the breathtaking views of this lake.

This review is strictly based on the lake experience (I have other reviews on the campground and resort yelp page) Convict lake is absolutely breathtaking! We had such a great time staying here! This will definitely be an annual vacation for us from now on. We went and hiked afew different lakes near mammoth, and convict lake was by far the most beautiful lake. We took a sunset hike around the lake which was fairly easy. We were able to make it all the way around the lake in about an hour. It's pretty cool that you can access the water from pretty much anywhere along the hike, no boat required. We took a swim break and decided to jump in when we got hot during our hike. I will warn you tho....the water is pretty cold, even when we were there in August. You have to have a pretty high tolerance to handle the cold water. We also rented a pontoon boat and some paddle boards for the day and had an amazing time. It's only about a 15 minute drive from Mammoth Village, which was extremely convenient! PS. there is no cell phone service here

Stunning stop along the 395! Convict Lake is named after a wild shootout in 1871 between a group of escaped convicts from Carson City and a good ol' boy posse. The drama! The lake is nestled in the Sherwin Mountains, just a couple miles off the highway across from Mammoth Airport. There's free parking lakeside, so no need to brave the icy trail in winter. Circling the lake by foot most likely will result in you busting your butt on black ice! The lake's surface is so still & reflects the sky like a mirror in the wintertime. It makes for breathtaking views & photos if you arrive around sunset. I hear the lake can freeze over too, but don't walk it! There was a big drowning incident here 20 years ago from thin ice.

Beautiful and mesmerizing as it can get. Convict lake is awesome. We spent an entire day here hiking, fishing and kayaking. It got a bit windy later in the evening and we had to return back to the shores. The water is so clear and the view is breathtaking. This is a must stop place when in Mammoth Lakes.

An easy-to-access Lake with absolutely gorgeous scenery. Convict Lake can found on the further end of Mammoth Lakes and is located just off of Highway 395. The parking lot is small and is located directly in front of the lake. It is surrounded by a small, paved trail with sporadic side trails leading to the lakes Beach. It is handicap accessible. Ever wonder why it's named Convict Lake? Way back in the day a group of convicts escaped from a prison in Carson City and a posse was put together to go hunt them down. The showdown came to head here at the late where multiple convicts were captured and killed by the posse. Unfortunately, in the shootout a member of the posse, Sheriff Morrison, was also killed. So the late itself was named, "Convict" while the Mountain that looms or "watches" over the lake is named after the Sheriff; "Mount Morrison". Head out and enjoy. You won't regret it. It's great for everybody.

Can't say enough good things about this lake and the 3-mile loop trail around it. This is definitely an area we hope to return to and share with family and friends.

Convict Lake is an an incredibly accessible and picturesque lake just a short drive from Mammoth, and a beautiful place to spend a half a day or so, although you can easily do less or more time here. We came here for a few hours before our drive back down south, and loved the walking trail along the lake - a solid ~3 miles or so, with a variety of stunning views of lake, the bordering Sierras, and the hills. And this was in summer, without any spring flowers, fall foliage, or snowcapped peaks, and it was still gorgeous. Not sure if it has to do with the depth or the lake or the clarity of the water or what, but the color of Convict Lake is quite stunning - so many variations of gem-like blue and green, all this set against the backdrop of the granite mountains and grassy hills. Parking is free and easy and finding the path to walk around the lake also takes little effort. There were also a few paths that intersected with the Convict Lake path in case you want to go farther, and restrooms at the north end of the lake (near parking and such). Several small fishing parties also were lakeside, but it was by no means crowded or noisy.

Breathtaking...is an understatement! I believe it doesn't matter what time or which part of the year you come or visit this idyllic place, whether you come here in the early spring, the dawn of summer, early fall or the snowy high sierra winter - this lake has breath taking views to offer for the shutter bugs like myself and many others. Part of the lake offers a small trail which in the fall offers an Aspen & Birch canopy of vibrant burnt orange, yellow and gold, little spots with enormous boulders could offer a place to relax, sit and simply take in this magnificence that nature has provided. Small sections of pebble filled beach offers little fishing spots where many anglers could cast their lines and wait for that curious trout. On the other section of the lake, a canoe, kayak and boat rental offers different small vessels for those who would like to spend more time on the lake over the water for a nominal fee. It is quite difficult to sum up this magnificent work of nature, but in my humble little description, Convict Lake offers such beauty and priceless views for the nature lover, If you plan to visit Mammoth, Convict Lake is about 15 minutes before you reach the Mammoth Lake Village on Hwy 395 N., it offers a very easy hike to stretch those legs from the long drive and a welcoming scenic view which you and your furry companion could definitely enjoy (yes dogs are welcome - dogs on leash please) The place is full of history & tragedy that stretches from the Ice age, the Wild West bandits and the present adventurers; Convict lake got it's name from a bloody shoot-out from escaping..yes..you guessed it! Convicts of the wild wild west; this beauty comes with a bloody history (very interesting), make sure to stop and at least read the information boards provided for everyone to enjoy. I highly suggest visiting this place if you are coming over the High Sierra's. It is truly worth checking out. Enjoy!