Ruby Lake

A group of friends and I went to the hike. It normally takes a little over an hour of normal hiking but since there was snow when we went in the end of May it took us about 2 hours. The scenery is beautiful and you just can’t get enough.
I would highly recommend this hike for ages 12+ but I’m sure anyone can make it. The lake itself was frozen over at the time we went.
See pictures.

Disclaimer: I’m not a hiker… I am not physically active… And the altitude is not my friend…
With that said, I’m very happy my friends forced me up this hike, and I do mean forced as I repeatedly asked to be left behind. On the way to Ruby Lake, you get GREAT views of Mosquito Flats and there are mini ponds/​lakes along the way. Because I’m physically out of shape, I needed a lot of breaks, but my friends didn’t mind since it gave them time to take selfies =p
Although the hike was physically demanding, I felt great sense of accomplishment when I reached the lake and that’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
Recommended to my fellow adventure seekers!

As the other guys wrote: amazing. A great hike with minimal people contact. I hiked up on Sept 3 and there was still lots of snow leftover from last year. I kept going past Ruby Lake to a second, smaller lake. From there one has easy access to the back country. The parking was a little ugly at the trail head: the masses tend to hike to a larger lake on the valley floor. After this hike and on your way back to Mammoth stop off at one of the hot springs near the airport for a soak. This is what I did and my muscles were very grateful.

The most beautiful lake in the Mammoth Lakes area that no one has ever heard of. Most people will never see the majesty of Ruby Lake because they are too lazy to climb the 3 miles and 4000′ of altitude to reach it. Lucky for me, my mentally unstable coach made us run up and down the trail like it was flight of stairs.
The water in the lake is fed by ice cold melt from the 360 degree mountain range surrounding it. Even in late July there is snow on the mountains you can use to slide down into the hypothermic water. Extra points if you swim the 2 miles across in the water and not end up like the Encino Man.
Or you can take the relaxing route and just sit down on some rocks and look at the beautiful blue sky, green trees, and yellow flowers surrounding you with a nice PB&J sandwich.