McGee Creek is 4 miles west of Crowley Lake and 8 miles south of Mammoth Lakes off of Hwy. 395 in the Eastern Sierras. The area is known for its spectacular displays of summer wildflowers. We had a chance to explore a short leg of the trail back in July of 2005, and the vistas and bounty of wildflowers were simply awesome! The reason for the short trek was that, unfortunately, both Gil and Hana pooped out less than 1/2 mile up the trail due to heat and elevation. Hana overheated because of her dense fur coat, but Gil, on the other hand, well not quite sure what his excuse was...
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STATS:
Location: 8 miles south of Mammoth Lakes off of Hwy. 395, Inyo National Forest.
County: Mono County.
Management: U.S. Forest Service.
Closest Town: Crowley Lake.
Elevation: 7,723 ft.
Directions: From Hwy. 395 8 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, exit McGee Creek Road. Drive about 4 miles to reach the canyon at the road end.
Road Conditions: McGee Creek Road is paved.
Trails: Trail begins at the road end, heading upstream through the canyon to the John Muir Wilderness.
Fees: None for trail.
Hours: N/A
Amenities: Vault toilets & water at the campground.
Pets: Ok on leash.
Camping: McGee Creek Campground (USFS). 28 sites, each with a shade ramada (not many trees around to shade the sites). $20 per site. From Bishop, drive 37 miles north, exit McGee Creek Rd., drive 2 miles to the campground on the left.
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7/7/05 Trailhead.
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7/7/05 Gil with Hana, surrounded by beautiful hues of purple lupines and fiery-red desert paintbrush.
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7/7/05 A group of packers on either mules and/or horses coming down the trail.
7/7/05 McGee Creek.
7/7/05 Gil with Hana, both looking overheated.
7/7/05 Rosy Penstemon (Penstemon floridus).
7/7/05 Rosy Penstemon (Penstemon floridus).
7/7/05 Bridge's Penstemon (Penstemon rostriflorus).
7/7/05 Bruneau Mariposa Lily (Calochortus bruneaunis).
7/7/05 Bruneau Mariposa Lily (Calochortus bruneaunis).
7/7/05 Bruneau Mariposa Lily (Calochortus bruneaunis).
7/7/05 Freckled Milkvetch (Astragalus lintiginosus).
7/7/05 Freckled Milkvetch (Astragalus lintiginosus).
7/7/05 Freckled Milkvetch (Stragalus lintinginosus).
7/7/05 Bushy Linanthus (Linanthus nuttallii).
7/7/05 Bushy Linanthus (Linanthus nuttallii).
7/7/05 Stansbury's Phlox (Phlox stansburyii).
7/7/05 Long-leaved Paintbrush (Castilleja linarifolia).
7/7/05 Long-leaved Paintbrush (Castilleja linarifolia).
7/7/05 Desert Paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa).
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7/7/05 Dusty Maidens (Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii).
7/7/05 Sulphur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum).
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7/7/05 Aspen Onion (Allium bisceptrum).
7/7/05 Aspen Onion (Allium bisceptrum).
7/7/05 Aspen Onion (Allium bisceptrum).
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Penste
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