Just a few hours from LA, Mammoth Lakes is where you go when you want the best of the big stuff: mountains, views, lakes, trails, and bragging rights for your summer adventure! Here’s your grand tour itinerary.
Mammoth Trifecta
You want the whole enchilada? The big daddy? The grand slam? The … you get the point. This three-part adventure combines mountain biking, hiking, lakes, waterfalls, and epic views. Got your game face? Part 1: Begin with some fat tire fun in Mammoth Mountain’s Bike Park. Bring your own bike and gear or rent it at one at Mammoth Adventure Center at the Main Lodge, where you can also park your car and buy a pass to use the bike park. Enjoy the ride on “Downtown,” an easy-to-moderate “green circle” forest trail paralleling the main road for 4 miles to The Village at Mammoth, where you’ll roll on to Part 2. Follow the paved bike path paralleling Lake Mary Road for a 4.5-mile pedal to Horseshoe Lake. It’s a bit of a climb, so take your time and enjoy the scenery. You’ll pass Lake Mary before reaching Horseshoe Lake, a tranquil oasis and picnic area where you’ll lock up your bike (or hide it) and start a hike! Yep. Part 3 of this adventure happens on the Mammoth Pass Trail, a 4-mile journey leaving right from Horseshoe Lake. A short but steady ascent gives way to an easy walk in the woods. Towards the end the trail breaks into the open, showcasing the jagged peaks of the famous Minarets as you descend switchbacks through patches of wildflowers to Red’s Meadow and Devil's Postpile National Monument, a popular stop-off for Pacific Crest Trail trekkers who pick up fresh provisions. There’s a general store, a café, and a reliable shuttle service that’ll get you back to the Adventure Center. (But before you leave, take a short hike to Rainbow Falls, a 100-foot stunner that plunges over a sheer cliff on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.) The shuttle will drop you back at the Adventure Center, where it all started. This is your Mammoth achievement! Nicely done.
TIP: Remember, you still have to go collect your bike at Horseshoe Lake, a few miles down the road. If you’ve rented a bike and time is tight, you can drop it off at the Mountain Center located in The Village at Mammoth (you can also rent bikes here, and buy your bike park pass).
Park at the Adventure Center, located at Mammoth’s Main Lodge at the mountain’s base. You can rent bikes and buy bike park tickets here. The "Downtown" trail leaves right from the Main Lodge. When you finish "Downtown" and arrive at the Village, make a right at the stop light on Lake Mary Rd. Go all the way to the end where you arrive at Horseshoe Lake and find the trailhead for the Mammoth Pass Trail. Lock or hide your bike here, then hike the trail following signs to Red's Meadow. At Red's Meadow catch a shuttle ($7) back to the Main Lodge and Adventure Center. If you're doing this before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, check the shuttle schedule.
Activity: Hike ,Bike
Region: Points Beyond
Giant Ride!
You don’t have to be a gravity junky to let the good times roll at the biggest bike park in the West. Mammoth Mountain Bike Park's meticulously groomed terrain translates to 80 miles of single-track blanketing the mountain in top-to-bottom fun for all levels of riders. First time trying the sport? Get things rolling at the park's new Discovery Zone; its three bike trails and practice loop for entry-level riders will get you warmed up. For an easy ride that’ll have you going up and down without too much technical stuff, do the “Uptown/Downtown” route, an 8-mile all-in adventure that starts from The Village at Mammoth. It’ll give you cardio and thrills, without spills! A longer and more intermediate route combines “Uptown” and “Paper Route” for some cross-country action—and gorgeous scenery. For a grand occasion—ride “Uptown” from The Village at Mammoth to the Main Lodge, jump on the gondola, and get whisked away to 11,053 feet—a 360-degree wow-o-ramic peak! The view from up here spans the central Sierra all the way to Yosemite’s Half Dome. Keep the good vistas rolling by riding down “Off the Top” trail (an intermediate blue square route) and linking up with “Beach Cruiser” (another blue square route).
BEER BONUS: Tucked behind the parking lot at The Village at Mammoth, Mammoth Brewing Company has a fantastic tasting room (94 Berner St.), offering samples of their award-winning microbrews. If you like hoppy IPAs, you’ll love the IPA 395 made with local hops, desert sage, and mountain juniper. Pick up your favorite to go!
If you want to start your ride on the “Uptown” trail, you can rent your bike and buy your Mountain Bike pass at the Mountain Center located in The Village at Mammoth. Bring a map, which you can pick up at the Mountain Center or the Main Lodge's Adventure Center.
Activity: Bike
Region: Points Beyond
Guilty Pleasure
A giant U-shaped canyon framed by bare granite peaks rising to 12,000 feet creates a dramatic backdrop for Convict Lake. But this beauty has a turbulent past. In 1871, six escaped prisoners from Carson City holed up here and got into a shootout. Wild West gunfights are history, but otherwise this place hasn’t changed much in the last 10,000 years. Carved by glaciers from the Ice Age, Convict Lake has ultra-clear turquoise waters that get to 138 feet deep. With 7,850 feet of elevation, the lake is a popular fishing spot (stocked with rainbow trout) encircled by a gentle 3-mile trail. There are plenty of picnic tables along the path. A boardwalk crosses Convict Creek on the back side of the lake and passes through a grove of aspen trees. Those looking to get out on the water can rent a canoe or kayak from the marina. Go in the morning, as wind picks up in the afternoon. This convict is one dangerous beauty.
The turnoff for Convict Lake is 8 miles south of Mammoth Lakes off of Hwy. 395, across from the airport. Follow Convict Lake Rd. 2 miles to the lake. Kayak and canoe rentals are $30 per hour. The trail around the lake is dog-friendly!
Activity: Hike ,Water ,Dog-friendly
Region: Points Beyond
A16's Summer Clearance Sale
So you’ve been exploring Southern California’s great outdoors this summer? Awesome! Now, how’d you like to get up to 50% off premium outdoor clothing and gear from the best brands in the business? Plan your next adventure at Adventure 16 for their epic summer clearance sale, starting tomorrow (August 16)! The North Face, Patagonia, Eagle Creek, Icebreaker, Gregory, ExOfficio, Mountain Hardwear, Vasque, Black Diamond, Kelty, and more….it’s all going to be on sale at up to 50% off. Get a sneak peek at some of the items before the sale starts by doing a little window-shopping. With 5 locations throughout Southern California, locally owned Adventure 16 specializes in outdoor adventures. The experts working here live and breathe the outdoors so you can count on them for sound advice on what to get to fit your needs—from backpacks to footwear and the best clothing for your preferred outdoor activities. They’ll even give you the beta on their favorite backpacking, hiking, and biking destinations. Ready, set, save up to 50% at Adventure 16’s Summer Clearance Sale. Starts tomorrow!
BONUS: Sneak a peek at some of the sale items at Adventure16.com.
A16’s Summer Clearance Sale is August 16 to September 2. Get there soon to get the best stuff!