LABSS Trail Alignment Studies

Project Description: The Lakes Basin Special Study (LABSS) Executive Summary provides recommendations for Trail Development in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. "High levels of visitation and inadequate official trail connections have resulted in the degradation of official trails and a proliferation of informal user created trails in the Lakes Basin. The strategic development of sustainably designed and routed trails serving the most common desire lines and destinations in the area will help to mitigate the proliferation of user trails and their associated environmental impacts while also improving user experience and connectivity."

LABSS was an effort funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) which awarded the Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML) a grant in 2008 to complete recreation and mobility planning in the much-loved and heavily visited Mammoth Lakes Basin. In partnership with the Inyo National Forest (INF) and MLTPA, LABSS, kicked off in the summer of 2010 with a variety of community-based outreach events, workshops, field trips, and more.

For complete information on LABSS, please visit the LABSS web page.

LABSS Overview

These trail alignments are recommendations from the LABSS collaborative planning process and have been refined in the field.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 3 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Campground to Lake George Trail: Develop a trail connecting the campground to the lake that respects the slope and protects the lake from erosion caused by poorly aligned user trails.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 4 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Lake George Loop: Officialize the user trail around Lake George, rerouting where necessary to ensure sustainability.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 6 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Horseshoe to Lake George Path: Increase the attractiveness of Horseshoe Lake as a staging area and reduce pressure on available parking and other resources in the Lake George area by developing a multi-use path connecting Horseshoe Lake to Lake George.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 9B - DRAFT 06/20/18

Four Lakes Loop: Create a loop trail connecting lakes Mary, George, Barrett, and TJ, building off existing soft surface trails in the area.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 10 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Coldwater to Lake Mary: Evaluate trail from Coldwater Trailhead to Lake Mary Loop Road for officialization, reconstruction, or closure.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 11 - DRAFT 06/20/18

McLeod Lake Trail: Improve erosion control measures on the McLeod Lake Trail and consolidate any braided or user created trails in between Horseshoe and McLeod lakes

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 12 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Lake Mamie–Area User Trails: Officialize or remove user created trails between Horseshoe Lake and Lake Mamie.

TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY FOR LABSS ID # 13 - DRAFT 06/20/18

Twin Falls Trail: Create a trail along Twin Falls between the Twin Falls overlook and Upper Twin Lake (equestrian and pedestrian only).

Last updated February 20, 2024