From the Heart Lake Trailhead at the Coldwater day-use parking area, this well-used trail crosses Mammoth Creek and passes two left-hand forks leading to ruins and the original mineshaft of the Depression-era Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine (both worthwhile sidetrips). Staying to the right, the trail then climbs a mile or so up into the John Muir Wilderness to Heart Lake. Many archaeological and historic sites exist throughout the Inyo National Forest and on adjacent federal and state lands. These sites are special places that contain irreplaceable information of our past and are protected by law. Please take only photographs, leave only footprints, and report vandalism.