Mammoth Lakes is a beautiful mountain town best known for its long ski season and even longer après-ski nights. However, this little gem of a place offers a lot more than just the ski hill, most of which you can best discover during the long, warm days of summer. You can spend your time exploring nature by day and local culture by night, whether that’s through a swim in a crystal clear, chilly alpine lake, listening to a live band, or enjoying a lively game of darts or cornhole.
During the summer, the town is awash in the vibrant greenery of juniper trees, Jeffrey pines, and blooming wildflowers. The lakes are full and the mountain streams flow. There are plenty of people around, biking, hiking, and fishing, but no one is in a rush. There’s conviviality that doesn’t exist during the crush of the ski season and an ease of travel that’s impossible when the town bears the weight of hundreds of inches of snow.
Mammoth Lakes offers an abundance of activities to keep even the most energetic individuals occupied for a long weekend, many needing nothing more than a sturdy pair of hiking shoes and a pleasant smile.
Be Surprised by the Outdoors
Many of Mammoth Lakes’ summer visitors flock to the area for its easy access to the Tuolumne Meadows section of Yosemite natural park and miss the incredible outdoor adventure opportunities which start right on the edges of town and the lovely bike paths that run through it.
On the shorter side, the trails that run around Twin Lakes and Lake Mary are flat, mostly shaded loops which encircle clear, alpine lakes, and provide plenty of opportunities for picnicking and swimming. Horseshoe Lake, while flat, provides a walk with a novel experience: a loop through a desolate landscape where trees struggle to grow because of the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the soil from a swarm of earthquakes that shook the area in 1989.
For those with stronger legs and more stamina, there are some challenging trails with steep elevation gains and incredible views. More challenging hikes include Duck Pass, which passes a string of smaller lakes during its 2,150ft climb to Duck Lake, and Agnew and Gem Lakes via Rush Creek Trail, which start off with little shade, but provide a reward in terms of gushing waterfalls and ample trees at the end. Backpacking opens even more possibilities, especially because the shuttles provided by Mammoth Mountain and the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority allow hikers to take one-way routes without the need to shuttle cars.
Eat & Drink
- The Warming Hut’s outdoor patio is both the perfect start and end of the day. (https://www.thewarminghutmammoth.com/).
- The Stove offers classic breakfasts, but can require a bit of patience, especially on a busy weekend morning (http://www.thestoverestaurantmammoth.com/).
- If you’re in a rush to hit the great outdoors, the Bishop institution, Erick Schat’s Bakery, operates Shea Schat’s, which is located on Main Street. It doesn’t have a website, and the dine-in seating isn’t the most appealing, but the line moves fast and the baked goods are delicious.
- There’s nothing like grabbing a pint at Distant Brewing (https://distantbeer.com/) alongside locals after the end of a day on the trail. Distant also serves the best pizza in town.
- Some of Mammoth Lakes’ best cocktails and food can be found at The Mammoth Tavern, including a couple of life-changing mocktails and killer mac-n-cheese. (https://www.mammothtavern.com/).
- For a more family-friendly atmosphere with an extensive beer list and good food, head to Mammoth Brewing Company (https://mammothbrewingco.com/).
Sleep
- One of the nicest hotel in town is the Westin Monache Resort (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mmhwi-the-westin-monache-resort-mammoth/overview/). It isn’t up to the same standard as many other Westin properties, but it is conveniently located and is the closest thing to a luxury hotel available in town.
- The ski resort offers a wide range of accommodations. The nicest options are Juniper Lakes and The Village (www.mammothmountain.com)
- Mammoth Lakes strictly limits short stay rentals outside of the tourist zones, which are located around The Village, Canyon Lodge, Tamarack Lodge, and Juniper Lakes. Within these areas, there are plenty of great, albeit rather standard, vacation rental options.
- If you’re lucky, and possess strong advanced planning skills, book a site at the majestic Lake Mary campground, which is part of the Inyo National Forest (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233404)
Do
- Rent a bike to take advantage of Mammoth Lakes’ extensive bike trail network (https://www.mammothtrails.org/activity/32/biking/ and https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514). Bikes can be found at locations all over town, including at Footloose Sports (https://footloosesports.com/) and ASO (https://asomammoth.com/)
- Kayak the idyllic Convict Lake (https://convictlake.com/marina-2/) and enjoy a short walk in the shaded wetlands that line the far side of the lake. If you want to avoid the wind and the crowds, plan to kayak the lake in the morning.
- Outfit yourself and meet fellow outdoors enthusiasts at the always excellent Mammoth Mountaineering Supply (http://mammothgear.com/).
- Stop in to play board games at the quirky Mammoth Fun Shop (https://mammothfunshop.com/).
- Reserve a spot on the shuttle to the Devil’s Postpile National Monument and walk or catch the shuttle over to Rainbow Falls afterwards (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2659).
- Take a drive over to see the otherworldly Mono Lake (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514), in the morning to avoid both the wind and oppressive heat.
- Take a drive around June Lake (https://www.monocounty.org/places-to-go/lakes-rivers-creeks/june-lake/) and stop for a beer at June Lake Brewing (https://www.junelakebrewing.com/).
- Go fishing at Convict Lake (https://convictlake.com/marina-2/), June Lake, or one of the many other lakes in the area. Check permit requirements and other information before heading out: (https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/monocounty/Mono_FishingMap2022_web_22de9547-a78a-49d7-9572-7f5c5a2a7e65.pdf).
- Time your visit to coincide with Mammoth Lakes’ annual music and beer festival (https://mammothbluesbrewsfest.com/), which happens on the first weekend in August.
Additional useful websites