Part 3 of the Mammoth Lakes Series
Otto fishing on the San Joaquin River
This is an area loaded with options for fishing, hiking, and camping, and I visit here often. It’s a short drive from the campground to the Mammoth Ski Lodge where I start my day’s journey. (See the June 4th entry for information on the New Shady Rest Campground.)
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I should mention that there are several ways to access the twisting road that travels from the 9,900 foot elevation pass above the lodge down to the San Joaquin River. I usually pay the fee and take the mandatory bus because that gives me the leeway to catch my ride back from wherever I end my day. You can also drive down in your own car if you travel before the ranger station opens at 7am or anytime during the day if you have a disabled parking sticker, but you’ll still have to pay the fee when you come out. You can also drive your own car if you are camping in the river gorge, or if you have kayaks or float tubes to tote for fishing in either Starkweather or Sotcher Lake, but again, you’ll still have to pay the fee when you come out. The bus usually runs every half hour, and except during mid-afternoon during peak season, I think it’s the best option.
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Fishing the San Joaquin is a blast early in the season when the snow melt provides you with fast water and deep holes to drift bait through, and that’s when you catch the larger fish. Later on in the year the water slows up and the river shrinks, but it’s still fun. They plant trout in the river and lakes on a weekly basis, but never from Devil’s Postpile on down, that area is restricted to wild trout. Here are some of my favorite day trips for you to consider.
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1. Get off at bus stop No. 1 at Agnew Meadows and hike down the trail to the river about half an hour away. Fish one way down the river until you get tired of catching 6 to 10 inch trout, and then continue down the river trail to Soda Springs Campground where you can hook up with the bus. The total distance traveled is close to 3 miles, but it’s mostly downhill and an easy hike. Take water, the river water is not recommended for drinking because it contains a single-celled bug called Giardia that can cause gastric problems. There is drinkable water at both Agnew Meadows and Soda Springs Campgrounds. This stop is also popular with hikers traveling to many of the backcountry lakes upriver.
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2. Get off at Devil’s Postpile and fish one way downriver from the bridge there to the next bridge downstream. You can either cross the river at the Devil’s Postpile bridge and follow the far bank down, or hop along the near bank which will require transiting around some cliffs. Both hikes require working through brush to reach the deeper holes. The total distance between the two bridges is about a mile and a half. Once you reach the lower bridge, take the trail to the left back to the Rainbow Falls bus stop just 1/8 of a mile from Red’s Meadow Resort. Red’s Meadow has a store and a restaurant with cold beer, sodas, and great milkshakes. They serve burgers, too. That’s also the end of the bus route, and it’s half an hour back to the lodge from there.
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3. Get off at the Rainbow Falls bus stop and take the trail towards the falls. About 100 yards down the main trail, cut right (toward the west) on the mule trail. This trail takes you to the lower bridge about a half mile away. From there fish down river towards Rainbow Falls. Again, you can use the bridge to access the other side of the creek or stay and fish the near edge, both require working through some brush to access the deeper holes where you’ll have the best chance for finding larger trout. You can also cross the lower bridge and walk up-river along the far bank and then fish back down. Either way, you’ll have to return to either the Rainbow Falls or Red’s Meadow bus stop on your way out. There are some larger fish in this area early in the season, but catching anything larger than 10 inches is fairly rare.
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4. Get off at the Rainbow Falls stop and hike to Rainbow Falls, then fish the river down from there. You’re about a mile down river when you get to the falls so remember, whatever goes downstream must return upstream later. The lower falls are a nice option too.
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The view of the Minarets from the top of the Starkweather Trail
5. Forget the fishing and take a nice mile and a half one way downhill flower walk. Park behind the ranger station at Minaret Summit and then access the Starkweather Trail that begins on the south side of the road at the summit. It winds down to the bus stop at Starkweather Lake, and when things are in bloom, it’s beautiful.
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There are lots of other options in this area, and I’ve only touched on a few of my favorites. This is a great place to spend time whether you’re fishing, hiking, or just exploring the many other options available throughout the area.