Convict Lake

Convict Lake, located in the Inyo National Forest, is just under 10 miles southwest of the town of Mammoth Lake and five miles from the regional Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The lake and nearby creek gained their name from an 1871 Carson City prison break where the convicts were chased and finally cornered by the sheriff and posse, resulting in a gunfight at the creek that feeds into the lake.

The lake has long been a popular trout fishing spot, attracting large of amounts of people every year. During peak summer trout season, the lake and stream are stocked once a week with rainbow trout from local hatcheries. Campgrounds containing over one hundred campsites have also been developed in the surrounding area to support the influx of visitors. A general store is located at the north end of Convict Lake.

In addition to fishing, the lake and nearby areas support several other summer and winter activities including: swimming, boating, hiking, horseback riding, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.

Other nearby attractions includes the Bristlecone Pine Forest, Mono Lake, Mono Craters and the old Bodie Ghost Town.

Convict Lake just off of Highway 395 is a 5 hour drive east from San Francisco, 5 ½ hour drive northeast of Los Angeles and a 3 hour drive south of Lake Tahoe.