Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The hike to Thousand Island Lake is a Mammoth and Eastern Sierra hiking classic. The Thousand Island Lake hike can be done as a single day out and back of 16 miles, a loop of about 18 miles, or a multi-day backpacking trip along the PCT and JMT.
We chose to do a single day loop, starting on the PCT High Trail at Agnew Meadows and hiking to Thousand Island Lake along a spectacular ridgeline with unparalleled views of the Ritter range and the Minarets. Once we made it to Thousand Island Lake, we hopped on to the JMT where we hiked to Ruby Lake, Gem Lake, and Garnet Lake before taking the JMT back home. Our loop is 100% the way we would recommend doing this hike because it has absolutely everything: beautiful Eastern Sierra views, interesting ridgeline terrain, and plenty of brilliant alpine lakes for plunging. What a perfect Sierra hike!
#easternsierra #hiking #mammoth
The hike to Thousand Island Lake is a Mammoth and Eastern Sierra hiking classic. The Thousand Island Lake hike can be done as a single day out and back of 16 miles, a loop of about 18 miles, or a multi-day backpacking trip along the PCT and JMT.
We chose to do a single day loop, starting on the PCT High Trail at Agnew Meadows and hiking to Thousand Island Lake along a spectacular ridgeline with unparalleled views of the Ritter range and the Minarets. Once we made it to Thousand Island Lake, we hopped on to the JMT where we hiked to Ruby Lake, Gem Lake, and Garnet Lake before taking the JMT back home. Our loop is 100% the way we would recommend doing this hike because it has absolutely everything: beautiful Eastern Sierra views, interesting ridgeline terrain, and plenty of brilliant alpine lakes for plunging. What a perfect Sierra hike!
#easternsierra #hiking #mammoth
