Convict Lake, Mammoth, CA

Convict Lake Rd is one of the most easily missed spur roads off Hwy 395 in the eastern Sierra. I can say that with conviction (pun intended) because I was the one riding right by it - for 20 years! How would you know one of the most scenic spots in the Eastern Sierra is here unless someone told you.

And, it’s a mere THREE miles off the highway! Three! Pure travesty for any sport touring rider to blithely roll on by and not know about this. Despite the short distance, you cannot see this from Highway 395. You would never know it's there.

Convict Lake Rd is a short distance south of Mammoth and directly across from the Mammoth Airport leading up to a spectacular glacially carved basin packed with deep blue water and an even deeper history. It’s a short out-and-back detour and you cannot see the lake from the highway.

As you twist off Highway 395 at the Mammoth Airport and roll up Convict Lake Rd, the horizon is instantly dominated by the towering, rugged face of Mt Morrison, reaching over 12,200 ft into the California sky. It is one of the most dramatic backdrops in the entire Eastern Sierra range, reflecting perfectly off the glass-like water on a calm morning.

The lake gets its ominous name from a dramatic 1871 frontier shootout. A band of inmates escaped from a prison in nearby Carson City, and fled here. A local posse tracked them down to the water’s edge, resulting in a fierce gunfight that claimed the lives of two townspeople—including Robert Morrison, for whom the massive peak is now named.

Today, it is a serene paradise famed for world-class trout fishing, and a 3-mile shoreline hiking trail circling the lake. Plus the road flows a short distance around the lake to a second parking area. Convict Lake Rd is an effortless, must-see paved side trip for riders.

Don’t miss this next time you ride Hwy 395 near Mammoth. Devils Postpile NM, Minarets Vista, Mono Lake, Hwy 120-Sagehen Summit (whoops!!), Benton Crossing Rd, June Lake Loop, Hot Creek Geologic Site- it’s all right there.

Convict Lake covered in snow in late winter, early spring. And the Pashnit Hayabusa.

Convict Lake Rd spurs off Highway 395 to Convict Lake, a mere 3 miles off the highway.

Convict Lake, el 7583 ft, is located a few miles south of Mammoth, CA