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Red’s Meadow and Mammoth Lakes

Red’s Meadow and Mammoth Lakes reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

Red’s Meadow is a trail-adjacent facility near Devils Postpile, with road and shuttle links to the larger town of Mammoth Lakes. Together they form a major resupply and gear hub for Pacific Crest Trail hikers in the central Sierra.

Key points

  • PCT passes near the Devils Postpile and Red’s Meadow area around mile ~906 in legacy mileage schemes.
  • Short side trail connects the PCT/JMT corridor to Red’s Meadow facilities.
  • Seasonal shuttles or road access link Red’s Meadow to Mammoth Lakes, a full-service mountain town.
  • Mammoth Lakes provides grocery stores, gear shops, lodging, and extensive visitor services.
  • This node is a common major resupply, rest, and gear replacement point for Sierra hikers.

Details

Red’s Meadow sits in a valley near Devils Postpile and can be reached by a short side trail from the PCT/JMT corridor. During its operating season, it typically offers basic hiker services and acts as a gateway to the larger town of Mammoth Lakes via road or shuttle systems. The specific transportation arrangements can vary by year and management policies, so hikers often verify current operations in advance.

Mammoth Lakes itself is one of the most fully equipped towns along the Sierra portion of the PCT. It includes supermarkets, outdoor retailers, lodging of various types, and a range of food and service options. As a result, many hikers schedule a full resupply and one or more rest days here, using the opportunity to make gear changes, address minor equipment issues, and recalibrate plans for the second half of the Sierra.

Because of its combination of accessibility and services, the Red’s–Mammoth complex is frequently used even by hikers who skip more remote options such as Vermilion Valley Resort. It often functions as a central anchor when designing Sierra resupply patterns.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.