Details: Ediza Lake

The jagged spires of the Minarets, along with Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, form the dramatic backdrop for Ediza Lake, one of the most stunning lakes in the Ritter Range. This hike visits this alpine jewel, passing beautiful Shadow Lake and a series of pretty waterfalls on Shadow Creek along the way.

Trailhead to Shadow Lake

Distance from Trailhead: 7.8 miles (round trip)

Ending/Highest Elevation: 8,737-ft.

Elevation Gain: 697-ft.

Hikers taking the Devil’s Postpile Shuttle Bus to the trailhead (see driving directions below) should get off the bus at stop #1, Agnew Meadows. Walk up the dirt road to the second trailhead parking area. The trail starts at the southwest end of the parking lot.

Follow the trail as it skirts along the south side of a meadow and enters the trees, descending on a gentle grade. Pass a spur trail to the campground, the boundary marker for the Ansel Adams Wilderness and reach a signed trail junction at 1.7 miles. Continue straight ahead in the direction of Shadow Lake. The trail to the left heads toward Red’s Meadow and the Devil’s Postpile.

Beyond the junction the trail descends on moderate grades across open slopes, losing 230-ft., to the junction with the River Trail (8,040-ft.) at 1.8 miles. Turn right on the River Trail toward Shadow Lake. (Heading left on the River Trail leads to Reds Meadows.) Follow the wide, dusty trail as it ascends the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River valley on gentle grades through forest and small meadows.

At 2.3 miles pass to the left (east) of the forested shores of Olaine Lake. At 2.7 miles the trail splits. Turn left (west) on the Shadow Lake Trail. (The trail to the right leads to 1,000 Island Lake.) Shortly after the junction cross the Middle Fork on a good bridge, 2.9 miles from the trailhead.

The trail now climbs moderately steep switchbacks up an exposed rocky hillside clad in sage brush and junipers, paralleling Shadow Creek. Near the top of the climb the trail ascends a series of granite steps beside a scenic waterfall cascading down rocky clefts carved by the creek.

After gaining close to 700-ft. in just under a mile the grade abates as the trail passes through a narrow gap between the rock face and the creek and emerges at the northeast shore of Shadow Lake (8,737-ft.), 3.9 miles from the trailhead. Mt. Ritter (13,143-ft.) and Banner Peak (12,936) dominate the skyline to the west.

To Ediza Lake

Distance from Trailhead: 13.4 miles (round trip)

Ending/Highest Elevation: 9,265-ft.

Elevation Gain: 1,225-ft.

The trail traverses along the northern shore of Shadow Lake for half a mile. Just beyond the end of the lake the trail connects with and joins the John Muir Trail (JMT) heading northbound. The southbound JMT turns left (south) at this point and crosses the lake’s inlet stream on a bridge. Our trail, the northbound JMT, continues straight ahead.

For the next 0.6 miles the trail follows the JMT ascending on gentle to moderate grades along the north side of Shadow Creek, passing waterfalls and pretty cascades along the way. At 5.1 miles the trail splits. The JMT turns right (northwest) toward Garnet Lake. Our trail to Ediza Lake continues ascending the scenic Shadow Creek Valley, wandering through meadows and forest beside the cascading stream. Openings in the forest provide nice views of Volcanic Ridge, rising to the south.

Cross Shadow Creek on a log bridge at 6.4 miles. Past the bridge the trail climbs switchbacks and then traverses around the north end of a granite knoll to Ediza Lake (9265-ft), 6.7 miles from the trailhead. Views from the eastern shore of this alpine jewel are breathtaking. The lake is cradled beneath the rugged ramparts of the Ritter Range. Banner Peak and Mount Ritter tower above the northwest end of the lake while the jagged spires of the Minarets frame the lake to the southwest.

Campsites are located on the western and northern side of the lake. No camping is allowed along the eastern shore.

Optional Trip to Iceberg and Cecile Lakes

Distance from Trailhead: 16.6 miles (round trip)

Ending/Highest Elevation: 10,239-ft.

Elevation Gain: 2,200-ft.

It is possible to visit two small lakes, Iceberg (9,774-ft.) and Cecile (10,239-ft.), located to the south of Ediza. The use trail to Iceberg Lake follows the boot beaten path along Ediza’s eastern shore to the south end of the lake where the route climbs a moderately steep granite bench, staying to the east of pretty creek cascading down the hillside. The creek is Iceberg Lake’s outlet stream. After climbing for 0.6 miles and gaining about 390-ft. the grade abates as the route traverses a lovely meadow to Iceberg Lake at 7.7 miles. The scenic lake is cradled in a deep granite bowl directly beneath the Minarets.

The route to Cecile Lake is more difficult, climbing the steep rocky headwall at the south end of Iceberg Lake. When climbing aim for the point slightly to the east of Cecile’s outlet stream. Lingering snow and ice can make the ascent quite challenging. Cecile’s setting is equally dramatic with the spires of the Minarets forming a perfect backdrop for this azure jewel. Total distance to Cecile Lake from Ediza Lake is 1.5 mile (8.3 miles from the trailhead) with a 974-ft. elevation gain (2,200-ft. elevation gain from the trailhead).