Hiker's Water Taxi

Our ferry boat, The Edison Queen, travels on the lake from approximately June 1st to October 1st depending on the back country snow conditions and our visitors requirements. It runs seven days a week with special departures upon request. The boat dock at the mouth of Mono Creek is less than a mile from the main PCT/JMT trail.

When the water taxi is in the water, the following schedule applies (from approximately June through October):

Morning

9:00 am... Leave Vermilion Valley Resort™

9:45 am... Leave Mono Creek Landing

Evening

4:00 pm... Leave Vermilion Valley Resort

4:45 pm... Leave Mono Creek Landing

Fare for the water taxi is $12 per person one way, $19 round trip, and can be purchased in the general store.

No reservations are needed.

Special Ferry runs can be arranged throughout the day. The charge is $12 per person, with a $75 minimum.

Hiker options in the event the water taxi is not operating:

You can hike directly along the lake trail to the resort; mileage from the water taxi landing to the lodge is 4.8 miles.

To get back to the JMT (South) you can avoid going back on the lake trail to the switchbacks up Bear Ridge 7900' to 9880'by catching our vehicle hiker shuttle ($10.00) to either of the two alternative trails.

1.) Bear Ridge trail on southern side of lake, trail head is at the spill-way. Mileage is 5.7 to junction of PCT/JMT. (elevation is 7665' to 9880') This is a great trail to use if you are north bound (PCT) and want to get to the resort; the trail is sandy and puts you out right at the dam. Simply walk on top of the dam (concrete) till it ends then walk up the shoreline to the lodge. (About a mile). We do not recommend this trail to hikers who want to join the PCT/JMT southbound (loose, dry and steep)

2.) Bear Creek Cut-off trail to Bear Creek trail is the recommended trail for South Bounders to get back to the PCT/JMT. Very pretty trail runs right up the canyon along Bear Creek, picturesque and elevation gain is minimal. (7560' to 8985') Mileage total is 10.2.

If you go back the same way you came in using the lake trail your mileage to this junction is 12.4 miles. So, you save time a couple of miles and a whole lotta switchbacks (Dry & Steep) by using this alternative.

Note: The Tom Harrison JMT Trail map package does not show these trails, use the Tom Harrison Mono Divide Map for this section. Worth its weight in gold!