Duck Pass Backpacking - Mammoth Lakes, California

Several interesting trails in the John Muir Wilderness area offer a variety of hikes beginning behind Coldwater Campground. Climbing over Duck Pass to join the John Muir trail, the Duck Pass trail climbs the forested hillside behind Coldwater Campground and goes past Arrowhead, Skelton, and Barney lakes before going over Duck Pass. A side trail to Emerald Lake offers an alternate route to Skelton Lake or the option of a loop past Barret Lake returning to the west side of Lake Mary. Common destinations beyond Duck Pass include Duck Lake, with an intense, deep-blue color, and nearby Purple Lake.

[@clementhanami6030]

Thanks love this. Going to Duck lake this year so very helpful!

[@Sheety33]

Have fun! Was just there Saturday.

[@dennymayer7898]

Outstanding Video. First did this hike in 1969. Changed my life forever! Keep up the great filming!

[@valladolid0711]

How did it change your life forever? Just curious.

[@Goyahkla100]

Wow, finally a nice video without a bunch of shit music in the background, thank you!! Very beautiful

[@Sheety33]

Thanks for the awesome comment!!

[@funqboys]

True!

[@rayflower1915]

lol

[@paolo-n2000]

@@rayflower1915 - more sheety techno dance music......lol

[@jennifermyers539]

You are my favorite blogger with hiking/backpacking videos. Not too much talking, lots of great insight and focused on the beauty. This video inspired me to book this trip(if the forests open before it snows). Thank you for your great videos. Just stunning.

[@ThatRogersFamily]

Wow! What a gorgeous journey. Such an incredible video.

[@BeCCaWhere2GoNext]

wow! speechless beauty!!thanks for sharing!

[@avalemert]

Thank you so much for sharing, and I agree, it's wonderful to just hear the wind, water and birds... beautifully done, I want to go!!!

[@JazzY-ti5eb]

My husband, dog, and I did the hike to Duck Lake a couple days ago. Up and back took just under 6 hours including lunch and swim time for the dog. We did a loop starting towards Emerald Lake then returned past Arrowhead. It was beautiful, but a pretty tough hike for me. Mostly the altitude. Beautiful video.

[@echo1er]

this video came out awesome thanks for posting.

[@Big824John]

Another great video Sheety33!! Great job!!! Beautiful lakes and country :)

[@onthetrailwithrobandluz3520]

Some amazing vistas! We are planning a trip up that way and you video has inspired us!! TY

[@oosung]

Thanks for posting, great shots and nice organic audio.

[@mylifeasiknowitdesireerold9666]

wow that's breathtaking

[@jammnjoey]

Nice video, why no shots of Cascade Valley on your way down to purple or back to duck isn't that view just as amazing.

[@macarioleyva7832]

What a beautiful place..

[@danielj9769]

I love that trip. I've done it twice and it's just amazing. It's about 9.5 per my GPS to Purple Lake.

[@RizetoPower]

amazing scenery

[@macarioleyva7832]

4:35 amazing view... That's the perfect paradise

[@adventuringoutdoorswitheric]

We are hiking this a week from today! I subscribed because your videos are good reference guides on what we can expect on future hikes. Nicely done!

[@Sheety33]

Have a great hike and thanks for the comment!

[@waltavoc]

Very beautiful. At 4.50 reminds me of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. Nice to see you've given your missus or girlfriend a starring role as she is always walking in front in most clips. Thanks Sheety. Enjoy all your films. From here in Aussie

[@Sheety33]

+waltavoc Glad you enjoyed the video waltavoc! Mrs. Sheety tends to get in the way when filming :P More to come!!

[@RoadtoNowhere73]

fantastic vid. got me fired up, doing it in 2 weeks

[@WhoaNellyJake]

Wow. Amazing

[@zitasaza1zitasaza15]

SO NICE VIDEO GRASIAS POR COMPARTIR

[@atlantisfunktions]

I would for sure swim in that pristine clear blue lake

[@macarioleyva7832]

the water is so clear

[@porda-potty]

Best fishing ever

[@hankserrano828]

hiked to duke pass today..just went few miles back,some.snow

[@1969sofine]

This trail is one you must train for

[@JStompinado]

Cool video......if you ever go back, stay at pica lake.....you'll have the whole campground to yourself and it's nice fishing.....you can see it in your video, it's the little lake in the corner of duck lake

[@Sheety33]

+JStompinado Thanks for the advice! Looking forward to going back this coming Spring/Summer. Can't wait!!

[@piehamcake1]

mouth breather

[@yami3350]

Wow love this video!! I’m planning my first backpacking. Any advice? I love Northern California, any trails you also recommend?

[@Sheety33]

Thanks! My advice is to enjoy your time on the trail - hike your own hike! Not too familiar with NoCal trails, but did hike Lassen Peak a few years back and loved it.

[@solojo928]

Beautiful video! I'm planning a trip from Canada to California in mid-May. Would this trail be accessible that early in the season or would it still be snowbound?

[@Sheety33]

Solo Jo still snowbound for sure. You could possibly cross country 🎿 or snow shoe into the area.

[@bittersweetpurple]

Beautiful video. I have a technicality question about the overnight pass needed for this? thanks!

[@Sheety33]

Yesenia Martinez sure, what’s your question?

[@Big824John]

4:16 in, I have never seen water that blue!! Awesome! :D

[@obijuankenobi6565]

Yes...... Lake Tahoe

[@patriot1303]

suggest gimble for cam but ya otherwise very beautiful thanks for sharing it

[@khevinbeatsworkinwatterson1848]

Is this campsite legal? looks just off the outlet of Purple? If so thx!! Not much good camping around purple

[@thomasclark6268]

@Charles Meyer You might want to think about camping farther than 2 feet from the trail. Should be 200 feet from water (lake and stream).

[@kw19193]

Absolutely lovely. Very well done. What camera were you using? Cheers!

[@Sheety33]

kw19193 thanks! Canon t4i and iPhone 4s.

[@liaayim]

How many days did it take you to hike to all these places? :)

[@Sheety33]

This was an overnight trip!

[@chautran3976]

Looks amazing!! What's the milage for this trip? How many nights?

[@Sheety33]

+Chau Tran Just under 16 miles round trip. Amazingly this was just an overnight backpacking trip into the Mammoth Lakes back country! We were going to spend 2 nights but the cheap mats we bought were useless. Amazing place to go backpacking and will be back this summer!

[@SuperKaloyan]

what camera do you use? nice video!!

[@Sheety33]

Canon T4i and iPhone 6.

[@pashnit]

Can you bring a kayak?

[@01K02K95K]

oh my

[@Midtownsoles]

Do you know the name of the first lake shown in the video?

[@Sheety33]

Remi hernandez Emerald Lake

[@geareddownclub3062]

how long did hike take? do you have to get permit?

[@Sheety33]

+Geareddown club It took approx 6 hours to get to Purple Lake from the trailhead in Mammoth, although we stopped numerous times to take photo's and enjoy the scenery. If you hiked non-stop to Purple Lake you could make it in 2-3 hours. Yes, a permit is needed to camp over-night. No permit needed if just making a day hike into the wilderness.

[@kontaa]

What month did you go?

[@Sheety33]

July

[@kontaa]

Sweet! Looks great. Awesome video - makes us excited for our upcoming trip!

[@hankserrano828]

funny !! was going to comment about music !! love the sounds of peace ,, hate hate HATE LOS ANGELES !! RAT RACE DISGUSTING !!!! heading too mammoth this Monday ,have a job interview .I'm getting this job single dad moving my kids away from the evil city done !! gorgeous video brother love it !! I didn't know this trail existed, guess that would be my fault stay in convict fish fish fish ,, I'm hitting Duke trail after I land my job ,,thank you for taking me away good job

[@rayflower1915]

what you mean by rat race....

[@fiazmunaf8280]

Omg , very beautiful place, i m not sure i will see this place in my life , because i from pakistan and i have no visa and money

[@vanessalupian9952]

is it okay to swim there?

[@Sheety33]

Yes, you can swim anywhere!

[@vanessalupian9952]

+Sheety33 thanks :D

[@h.n.mvlogs3458]

Ok

[@mrchie888]

how was the mosquito that year?

[@Sheety33]

Nonexistent....I believe this was due to the time of the year.

[@user-cf7pe3qg1c]

Great video. Wearing shorts is big no no in my book. Not sure why people do it. Protect your legs at all cost from bugs, sunburn, dirt, and cuts. You're pretty screwed out there if you don't. OMG...is the woman wearing tennis shoes?

[@obijuankenobi6565]

That place looks so polluted......gross.