Summary 
| Difficulty | 4 Intermediate-advanced |
| Length | 9.8 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
7200 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+2150, -2150 round trip |
| Navigation | Road and map |
| Time | Half to most of a day |
| Season | Mid-December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Low |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Old Mammoth, Bloody Mountain |
| Start | South side of Highway 395 at Sherwin Creek Road, 1.2 miles southeast of Mammoth Junction (junction of Highways 395 and 203). |
Description
Although you are only a short distance from the town of Mammoth Lakes, the small canyon in which Laurel Creek lies is such an out-of-the-way place that you will probably be completely alone. In this tour you follow a road across sagebrush to the base of a steep slope, and then ascend a more moderate slope to the head of the canyon. There are two routes up the steep part. The tour here describes the ascent up one route and the descent down the other. Since much of this tour runs below steep slopes prone to avalanche, do not ski here when the snow is unstable.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 1.1
Elevation change: +50
From the trailhead (1), follow Sherwin Creek Road east and then southwest for a total of 1.1 miles until you pass a road on your left (2).
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 1.1 - 1.5
Elevation change: +100
Continue to ski west on Sherwin Creek Road for 0.4 mile until you reach a lesser road (3) that climbs south (left) from the main road.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.5 - 1.9
Elevation change: +300
Leave the main road and climb south on the lesser road for 0.4 mile until you reach a gully (4). You are now at the base of the steepest slope.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.9 - 3.1
Elevation change: +950
If the road is still visible you can continue to follow it as it zig-zags and climbs southwest for 1.2 miles until you reach Laurel Creek (5).
If the road is not visible, ascend the gully slightly west of south until it narrows and then leave the gully and ascend southwest for a total of 1.2 miles until you reach Laurel Creek (5).
If you continue up the gully beyond where it narrows, you can reach the top of a ridge, cross it, and descend to Laurel Creek. That route is only preferable when the snow cover is poor.
This point on Laurel Creek is where on the return route you will depart from the route skied up.
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 3.1 - 4.9
Elevation change: +800
Gradually climb south up the canyon for 1.8 miles to the head of the canyon (6).
Waypoint 6 to 5
Miles: 4.9 - 6.7
Elevation change: -800
Retrace your route north to mileage point 5.
Waypoint 5 to 7
Miles: 6.7 - 8.0
Elevation change: -1150
Leave the route you originally ascended and descend north along the east (right) side of a narrow creek drainage, and then continue north as the terrain opens up, for a total of 1.3 miles until you reach Sherwin Creek Road (7). As you approach the road, you may find yourself weaving between sagebrush.
Waypoint 7 to 1
Miles: 8.0 - 9.8
Elevation change: -200
Turn east (right) onto Sherwin Creek Road and follow it generally northeast for 1.8 miles until you reach the trailhead (1).
