Duck Pass Trail Guide (Mid-June) | Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
Episode 06 — Duck Pass
Mammoth Lakes, California
"The view that brought me back one week later."
Why Hike Duck Pass?
Some hikes reward you with distance. Others reward you with difficulty.
Duck Pass rewards you with one of the biggest alpine views in the Eastern Sierra after a surprisingly short hike.
I've hiked many trails throughout the Sierra Nevada, but I can't remember another trail where such a relatively short climb opened into a panorama like this.
Standing at Duck Pass, three layers unfold in front of you. First, the deep navy-blue water of Duck Lake. Behind it, the smaller Pika Lake. And beyond both, the Sierra Crest stretching across the horizon.
It's a view that photographs struggle to capture. The scale has to be experienced in person.
Quick Facts
- Distance: 7.9 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 1,791 ft
- Highest Elevation: 10,797 ft (Duck Pass)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Season: June–October
- Visited: Mid-June
- My Hiking Time: 6.5 hours (family pace with photography stops)
- Alltrails Link
Before You Go
I visited Duck Pass in mid-June.
Most of the winter snow had melted, streams were flowing well, the alpine lakes were completely full, and wildflowers had just started blooming.
Morning temperatures dropped to about 40°F (4–5°C), even in June. I recommend starting 30–60 minutes after sunrise.
That timing gave me cooler hiking temperatures, calm lakes for reflections, and beautiful morning light throughout the lower part of the trail.
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is the first major highlight of the hike. If possible, try to reach it between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. (Sunrise is 5:30am) The surrounding forest blocks the wind, creating beautiful reflections on calm mornings.
It was one of my favorite photography spots of the day.
Mosquito Rating: 8 / 10
Unfortunately, the calm air also means mosquitoes. Lots of them. While filming, every time I stopped to adjust my camera, dozens of mosquitoes surrounded me.
By the end of the hike I counted roughly 30–50 mosquito bites. One thing surprised me. Most bites were on my shoulders rather than my hands. My hands were constantly moving while operating the camera. My shoulders stayed still. Apparently, the mosquitoes noticed that too.
I also learned that mosquitoes easily bit through my lightweight sun hoodie, but couldn't bite through my rain jacket.
Skelton Lake
Skeleton Lake immediately caught my attention for another reason. The fish.
I've never seen so many fish constantly breaking the surface of an alpine lake. It almost looked computer-generated. If you enjoy fishing, this lake would definitely be worth exploring.
Mosquito Rating: 10 / 10
The shoreline was the worst mosquito section of the entire hike. Instead of stopping there, keep hiking another minute.
A small rocky overlook sits above the lake. The breeze completely changes the experience.
Mosquito Rating: 0 / 10
I spent nearly twenty minutes taking photos there without being bothered.
Barney Lake & Switchbacks
Barney Lake marks the transition into true alpine terrain. The forest begins opening, wildflowers
become more common, and the scenery grows bigger with every step.
After Barney Lake, the trail climbs steadily through a series of switchbacks. The grade averages about
500 feet of elevation gain per mile, so you'll definitely feel the climb.
Fortunately, every time you stop to catch your breath, turning around rewards you with another
spectacular view of the lakes below.
When I visited in mid-June, two short snow crossings remained near the upper switchbacks.
Each crossing was only1 about 20–30 yards, and previous hikers had already packed a clear path.
Although there was some exposure, the slope wasn't particularly steep. Most hikers simply followed the
existing footprints, and everyone I saw crossed without any major issues.
When I visited in the third week of June, the snow crossings were manageable with a little extra
caution. I found that trekking poles were the most helpful piece of gear for maintaining balance, and
having a GPS map made it easy to stay on the correct route across the snow.
With warmer summer temperatures, I would expect these snow patches to melt out soon.
The mosquitoes also almost completely disappeared once the trail became exposed to the wind.
Duck Pass
Then comes the moment you've been hiking toward all morning.
As soon as you cross Duck Pass, the landscape suddenly opens.
Duck Lake appears below, its deep navy-blue water dominating the basin. Behind it sits Pika Lake.
Beyond both rises the Sierra Crest.
For such a relatively short hike, the scale of this final panorama completely exceeded my expectations.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much that after hiking it once with my wife, daughter, and our dog, I drove back
to Los Angeles...
Then spent the next week thinking about Duck Lake. A week later, I drove nearly 500 miles round trip
back to Mammoth.
This time, I came alone with my filmmaking camera. Some places are worth visiting twice.
Duck Pass became one of those places for me.
Water Report
★★★★☆
Water was plentiful throughout the hike. With a water filter, finding water wasn't difficult.
I recommend refilling before reaching Duck Pass.
Although Duck Lake is enormous, accessing the shoreline requires climbing down a fairly steep slope.
Mosquito Report
| Area | Rating |
|---|---|
| Trailhead | 4 / 10 |
| Emerald Lake | 8 / 10 |
| Skeleton Lake Shore | 10 / 10 |
| Skeleton Lake Overlook | 0 / 10 |
| Barney Lake | 3 / 10 |
| Upper Switchbacks | 1 / 10 |
| Duck Lake | 0 / 10 |
DOOSVIEW Ratings
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Scenery | 10 / 10 |
| Photography | 9 / 10 |
| Water Access | 8 / 10 |
| Effort vs. Reward | 10 / 10 |
| Family Friendly | 7 / 10 |
| Dog Friendly | 8 / 10 |
| Mosquito Comfort | 2 / 10 😅 |
| Overall | 9.3 / 10 |
Field Notes
- Mid-June offers full lakes, flowing streams, and early-season wildflowers.
- Reach Emerald Lake between 7–8 AM for the best reflections.
- Skip resting at Skeleton Lake's shoreline. The overlook above the lake is much more enjoyable.
- Mosquitoes consistently targeted my shoulders while filming because they stayed still longer than my hands.
- A rain jacket blocked mosquito bites far better than my lightweight sun hoodie.
- After Barney Lake, the wind dramatically reduced mosquito activity.
- Carry a water filter. Water is plentiful before Duck Pass.
Final Thoughts
Duck Pass isn't the longest hike in the Sierra. It isn't the hardest.
What makes it special is how quickly it delivers one of the biggest alpine panoramas in Mammoth
Lakes. The combination of Duck Lake, Pika Lake, and the Sierra Crest creates a landscape that feels
much larger than the hike itself.
Some places look better in photographs than they do in person. Duck Pass was the opposite.
It had to be experienced.
Watch the full cinematic hiking film on the DoosView YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@DOOSVIEW
I will post the video about Duck Pass in 2-3 weeks
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