Fourth Recess Lake Access is reached via a strenuous single-day hike from Mosquito Flat Trailhead (10,250 feet) near Rock Creek, involving a 6-hour trek over 12,000-foot Mono Pass and down Mono Creek drainage.

The trailhead offers parking, vault toilets, and campsites, with nearby lodging and camping available at Rock Creek Resort, Rock Creek Lodge, and along Rock Creek; the final 15-minute walk from the Mono Creek Trail junction leads to the lake nestled between towering granite cliffs.