MAMMOTH LAKES
Adventure awaits you in California’s high country
HIKE, FISH, GOLF, SKI!
MAMMOTH VISITOR INFORMATION
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MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKIING & MORE
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Aspectacular setting for year-round fun, the Mammoth Lakes region sprawls across the mountains, meadows, and waterways of the Eastern Sierra. Two hours north of Mount Whitney, the Continental United States’ highest point, and only 45 minutes from Yosemite’s east entrance, this outdoor playground hosts year-round events, from winter snow events to summer festivals, fishing derbies to endurance events.
Accessible by driving, you can also fly into two local airports. The Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH) in Bishop, 45 minutes south of Mammoth Lakes, offers commercial airline service, and scheduled charters fly into the Mammoth-yosemite Airport (MMH), a 10-minute ride to town.
Summer Fun
Summer brings hikers and bikers wishing to explore the extensive Mammoth Lakes Trail System, from rugged multi-day adventures to gentle walks on flat, shady forest trails. At the Sierra Star and Snowcreek golf courses, golfers boast about extra-long drives in the thin high-elevation air.
Many Mammoth Lakes motels cater to fishing enthusiasts, offering fish-cleaning facilities to their guests. The area is renowned for its superb fly fishing in streams and lure-based fishing in lakes, such as the Mammoth Lakes Basin and Convict and Crowley lakes. If up for a challenge, you can attempt the “grand slam” of trout fishing, which involves catching rainbow, brook, brown and golden trout. Or take to the water without a fishing rod and paddle your way through Mammoth Lakes’ picturesque lakes and rivers on a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board. For a more immersive experience, you can even try a guided historical tour while paddling on Mono Lake. When you’re ready to take a break from the water, you can view the geological wonders of the Devils Postpile National Monument. Here, you can marvel at the towering basalt columns before cooling off in the spray of the hundred-foot-tall Rainbow Falls, nearby.
Summer is festival time around Mammoth Lakes, with a calendar filled with concerts and events, including the everpopular August Bluesapalooza music and beer festival. Thrill-seeker experiences abound, from climbing courses on Mammoth’s high-wire Via Ferrata cliff-edge to the Mammoth Bike Park with more than 80 miles of singletrack on truly radical terrain (but also with a beginner-friendly Discovery Zone).
Winter Adventure
As the country’s premier mountain destination, Mammoth Lakes recently won “Best Ski Town in North America” in 2022 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, beating out 19 other North American mountain towns. And for good reasons.
As its name suggests, the Mammoth Mountain ski resort is gigantic, with terrain descending from multiple peaks and runs suitable for all levels of skiers. The resort offers more than a dozen terrain parks for snowboarders and hosts regular competitions for those who just want to watch. Fuel up at Mammoth Mountain’s eating and drinking venues such as The Mill BBQ, the indoor/outdoor Lincoln Bar at Canyon Lodge, or Eagle Lodge’s Fowl Language southern-style restaurant. Then, work off those meals with cross-country skiing at the Tamarack Ski Center and on the Mammoth Lakes Nordic Trail System. For non-skiers, the Mammoth Lakes area offers dogsled rides, snowmobiling, snowshoe tours, fat-tire snow biking, and even snowcat rides to scenic picnic spots. And small children will love Mammoth’s tubing park, the winter parades with mascot “Woolly” and scenic gondola rides. At June
Mountain, a laid-back ski resort 20 miles from Mammoth Lakes, kids 12 and under ski for free!
If it’s too cold outside, dine and play inside at the Mammoth Rock ’n’ Bowl, or catch a film at the Minaret Cinemas, which offers a beer and wine service. Beer enthusiasts can sip through the Eastern Sierra Brewery Tour and taste more regional brews at the Public House Tap Room. Then, warm up with fish tacos and margaritas at Gomez's in the Village of Mammoth or the hot Cuban Sandwiches of the Dos Alas Cubarican Café with equally tasty views of the Sherwin Mountains.
Spring Activities
During springtime, many visitors take on the challenge of completing the “spring triathlon” of skiing, biking and fishing all in one day. And take advantage of great deals on Mammoth Lakes lodging and activities, including late-season sunny skiing (Mammoth Mountain often stays open past Memorial Day) or early biking, fishing or hiking to see early wildflower blooms.
Birding enthusiasts also arrive to observe the over 300 species of local and migratory birds flying through the area during spring, or the horde of 50,000 California gulls nesting at Mono Lake each year. And as the skies clear up, the Eastern Sierra Observatory offers great stargazing opportunities for visitors during their extended May viewing dates.
Fall Colors
The fall foliage in Mammoth Lakes offers a visual feast during hikes through the vibrant colors of the season on the Mammoth Rock Trail or the Heart Lake Trail to breathe in the crisp autumn air and immerse yourself in nature. If camping is more your style, pitch your tent amidst the trees at the Sherwin Creek Campground. For a scenic drive, take a trip on the June Lake Loop, winding through the mountains to witness the stunning reds, yellows and greens of aspen groves and cottonwood trees nestled below towering pine forests.
For a more adventurous experience, soar above this breathtaking display on a helicopter tour. Or, saddle up and view the foliage by horseback on day trips or multiday adventures through historical sites in the hills, for a taste of the Wild West. In the mood for something eerie? Visit the ghost town within Bodie State Park, an abandoned gold mining settlement located about 60 miles north of Mammoth Lakes—the official ghost town of the State of California.