Horseshoe Lake is a lake situated in the east side of the Midway High Lakes Area below Mount Adams' northwest flank. The lake is popular for camping, quiet boating, hiking, and biking on a trail halfway around the lake. Other activities include scenic viewing and fishing.
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Eerie for both its beauty and its danger.
As there are many other lovely lakes near Mammoth, one of those may be better suited for your purposes and more worth your time and energy.
Taken and edited from the USDA website:
"U.S.G.S scientists detected naturally occurring Carbon Dioxide (CO2) gas in the vicinity of Horseshoe Lake and other areas on the Mountain in 1994. Since then they have been monitoring the gas, measuring the concentration and rate of gas discharged from the ground. The higher than normal concentrations of CO2 are responsible for killing approximately 120 acres of trees next to Horseshoe Lake and elsewhere on Mammoth Mountain.
Scientists believe that the CO2 is being released from a gas reservoir that has existed for a long period of time deep under Mammoth Mountain. It is believed that earthquake and magmatic activity beneath the area in 1989 opened channels for the gas to reach the surface.
CO2 is heavier than air and can collect at high concentrations in depressions and enclosures, posing a potential danger to people, especially small...
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Nice serene tranquil lake. I enjoy sitting by the beach and enjoying the views. Crystal clear lake. The water temp was cold in mid June 2024. Great sandy beach to set up chairs and enjoy a picnic. Trails around the lake are of moderate difficulty.
Large parking lot. Restroom pit smells. Horseshoe lake is the last stop on Mammoth lake trolley.
Per the ranger..lots of dead trees around the lake due to CO2 gas seeping from...
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Such a cool lake and fascinating geology! CO2 from underground volcanic activity started seeping up in the 1980s and killed part of the forest near the lake. It’s kind of eerie to walk through the dead forest and then look out at the lake and see so much life. It is safe to hike around, but there is no camping because the CO2 might get into your tent and kill you. There’s lots of hiking trails, and the water in the...
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