Five Hikes In The Eastern Sierra Your Mom Will Love
I didn’t grow up camping and hiking on family vacations. So, when I started adventuring outdoors more, it opened up my world and I was always so excited to come home and share my experiences with my mom.
If your mom is anything like mine— she’s adventurous but has her limits. My mom loves spending time out on the trails, as long as they aren’t too steep and don’t have cliffs!
Luckily, the Eastern Sierra is full of beautiful destinations that are easy to get to.
We’ve been to the Eastern Sierra together a few times, and each time we’ve hiked in the area, we’ve discovered new gorgeous trails, lakes, and places.
The hikes in this blog are all less than 5 miles round trip with little elevation gain. Each of these trails is gorgeous, has a wide trail, and has a high reward for their short distance. In other words, they’re the perfect trails to explore with your mom.
Mobius Arch in Alabama Hills
This .6 mile loop trail is pretty easy and offers stunning views of the Sierra Nevada range. From this hike you can the highest mountain in the continental U.S., Mt. Whitney. Here’s the AllTrails Link.
2. Convict Lake near Mammoth
Convict Lake is arguably the most scenic lake in the Sierra that you can drive right up to. You can opt to hop right out of the car and meander along the shoreline, or you can hike the 2.5 mile Convict Lake Loop trail that goes all the way around the lake. Here’s the AllTrails link.
3. Tenaya Lake, Yosemite
Tenaya Lake is another gorgeous road-side lake that can be accessed just steps from your car. To get to this lake, make sure Tioga Pass road is open (lay May through October). Additionally, you’ll have to pay to enter Yosemite (hint: if your mom is over 62, she can get a lifetime parks pass for only $80!). If you’re visiting Tenaya Lake, you can opt to meander along the shoreline, or you can hike the 3.5 mile trail that goes along the lake. Here’s the AllTrails link.
3. Twin Lakes Overlook, Mammoth Lakes Basin
Want the epic views without the sketchy cliffside trail? This overlook is the perfect answer. Located in the lakes basin in Mammoth, this overlook has an epic roadside view of Twin Lakes below. Click here for more information.
4. Hot Creek Geological Site
Hot Creek Geological site is one of the most unique geological features in the area. With sweeping views of the mountains, unique hot springs, and a beautiful river this trail has it all. Here’s the AllTrails link. You can also continue walking along the river for a while if you’d like to see more of this area.
5. Mono Lake Trail
Mono Lake is one of the most unique lakes in the Eastern Sierra. The lake has no outlet, and evaporation makes the lake three times more salty than the ocean. It’s also a dog friendly area. This .8 mile hike takes you to the South Tufta’s, the lakes unique geological feature. Here’s the AllTrails link.
Next time you take your mom on an adventure to the Eastern Sierra, I hope you’ll explore a few of the magical places on this list together.
