Sherwin and Valentine Lakes Loop

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Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This route provides a gentle climb up the Sherwin Lakes Trail and then a steeper climb up to Valentine Lake before descending back down the Valentine Lake Trail to Sherwin Creek Road to finish the loop.

There are restrooms at the Sherwin Lakes Trailhead.

Both the Sherwin Lakes Trail and Valentine Lake Trail below the Sherwin Lakes can be quite sandy. The section of the Valentine Lake Trail above the Sherwin Lakes is rocky. If you need to filter water, there are creeks along the route.

To get there, go east on Sherwin Creek Road from Mammoth for about 1.5 miles until you see the sign for the Sherwin Lakes Trailhead. Turn right and drive along a dirt road for a quarter mile until you reach the parking area.

From the trailhead, the Sherwin Lakes Trail climbs about 800 feet in just under two miles to a plateau with nice views of the Minarets. The trail skirts by the second of the three Sherwin Lakes and then reaches a juncture with the Valentine Lake Trail at about three miles.

From this juncture, turn right to take the Valentine Lake Trail up to Valentine Lake. The trail steepens and climbs another 1,000+ feet over the next 2.25 miles. The trail dead-ends at Valentine Lake. If you cross the outlet of the lake, you can find a nice lunch spot on some boulders overlooking the Long Valley Caldera behind you.

To descend, follow the Valentine Lake Trail all the way back down to Sherwin Creek Road. The descent is about 4.5 to 5 miles.

Turn left onto Sherwin Creek Road and follow it back to the Sherwin Lakes Trailhead in less than two miles.

The flora and fauna found along the Valentine Lake Loop include Jeffry Pines, Sierra Junipers, Indian Paintbrush, Lupines, Pink Monkeyflower, and Mountain Pride, among others.