Exploring the Inyo Earthquake Fault in Mammoth Lakes, California
California has a lot of earthquakes – and one of the more geologically active areas is located in the Mammoth Lakes / Long Valley Caldera area. And at the Inyo Earthquake Fault, you can get an up-close look on what the forces of nature can do. Technically a fissure (but named “Earthquake Fault” in all the documentation), the Inyo Earthquake Fault in Mammoth Lakes California is an interesting geological feature, where you can walk right up to a crack in the Earth caused by an earthquake. In this guide, I’ll tell you where the Inyo Earthquake Fault is and how to see the fault. Let’s begin!
Inyo Earthquake Fault – quick facts and details
- This is a 0.3 mile round-trip interpretive trail that won’t take you too long to complete.
- At its largest point, the Inyo Earthquake Fault is 10 feet wide and 60 feet deep.
- This fissure opened up somewhere between 550-650 years ago.
- Area is managed by the Inyo National Forest on public land.
- Free to visit
- Plenty of parking available.
- Pit toilets in the parking lot.
- Picnic tables available
Where is the Inyo Earthquake Fault?
Located right off of Minaret Drive (the road that leads up to the famous Mammoth Mountain Ski area), the Inyo Earthquake Fault is a short drive from the Mammoth Lakes downtown area.
As you drive up towards the Mammoth Mountain Ski area, you will see a large sign pointing the way to the parking lot to see the fault.
How to see the Inyo Earthquake Fault?
The trail to see the Earthquake Fault is very short, so it won’t take you long to see this interesting geological formation. You can get right up close to the fault, and you’ll see a few spur trails that will take you down closer to the bottom of the fault.
In some years, snow remains at the bottom of the fault all year! The photo below shows the snow still there in late May, which is not uncommon.
Native Americans used to store food at the bottom of the fissure to keep it cold during the summer months!
The trail is nestled in an old-growth red fir, Jeffrey Pine tree forest, so it’s really serene and quiet, even in the busy summer months.
There are guardrails on most of the sides of the fissure, so this is a family-friendly hike, though you’ll still want to keep an eye on small children as some of the spots are exposed.
If you happen to visit on a bright, sunny day, it can be very difficult to capture good photos of the Inyo Earthquake Fault, as the shadows cast into the crack are harsh. It’s best visited on an overcast day, or late in the afternoon.
Inyo Earthquake Fault – Final Thoughts
While this isn’t exactly a hike – more like a roadside attraction – it won’t take you long to see this interesting natural phenomon – it’s not every day that you get to see the damage an earthquake can do so up close. If you’re in the area, this is definitely something to add to your road trip itinerary.
Have you ever visited the Inyo Earthquake Fault? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
