San Joaquin Ridge : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

Overview

Ritter Range from San Joaquin Ridge

Minaret Summit is a popular drive up lookout point on the way to Devils Postpile National Monument. San Joaquin Ridge is a mostly barren rolling ridge than runs between Minaret Summit and San Joaquin Mountain northwest of Mammoth Lakes. This easy walk up hike with a dirt road going all the way to the top can be done in a few hours and has outstanding views of the whole Ritter Range to the west and the Mammoth Lakes Sierra to the south.

The ridge is also a skiing and mountain bike area.
The portion of the ridge featured on this page is the 10,242' high point just south of Deadman Pass.

Getting There

Road to the top

From the junction with Hwy. 395 take Hwy. 203 3.8 miles into downtown Mammoth Lakes. Turn left on the road to Minaret Summit (Hwy. 203) and go 5.3 miles. Turn left into the parking area (9,200'). Hike the main road going north 2.3 miles to the highpoint.

Red Tape

The Minarets from San Joaquin Ridge

This is a simple dayhike and no permits are required.

Camping

Ritter Range panorama

The nearest campgrounds are further down Hwy. 203 on the way to Devil's Postpile.
Agnew Meadows: (8,300' el.) Go 2.75 miles past Minaret Summit on Hwy. 203 to the hairpin turn going left. Take the road at the hairpin northwest .6 miles to the campground.
Agnew Meadows group campground: Go .4 miles further beyond Agnew Meadows campground on the same road.
Soda Springs campground: (7,700' el.) Go 2.3 miles past the hairpin turn further down 203 and turn left on a dirt road and go .3 miles.
There are several more campgrounds in Pumice Flat (7,600' el.) .5 miles on the right past the turn to Soda Springs campground as well as the Minaret Falls campground (7,600' el.) and another campground (7,600') at Soda Springs further along in Pumice Flat at the end of Hwy. 203 right before Devils Postpile.