Page 143 - 2018 Travel Guide to California

JOSH WRAY/MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM; OPP CREATIVE/MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM. OPPOSITE: JOSH WRAY/MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM
PADDLE BOARDING ON SILVER LAKE,
opposite; kicking up the powder on June
Mountain, right; casting for a big one at
Lake Mamie, below.
Winter Sports
As the name suggests, Mammoth Mountain
ski resort is gigantic, with terrain
descending from multiple peaks providing
runs suitable for all levels of skiers. The
resort creates more than a dozen terrain
parks for snowboarders, and hosts regular
competitions for those who just want to
watch. Tamarack Ski Center and the Mam-
moth Lakes Nordic Trail System are
destinations for cross-country ski enthusi-
asts. For non-skiers, Mammoth Lakes also
connects visitors with dogsled rides, snow-
mobiling, snowshoe tours, fat-tire snow
biking and even snowcat rides to scenic
picnic spots. Small kids can come to enjoy
Mammoth’s tubing park, winter parades
with mascot “Woolly” or a scenic gondola
ride. June Mountain, a 20-mile drive from
Mammoth Lakes, is a laid-back location for
downhill fun (and kids 12 and under ski for
free!). If it’s too cold outside, warm up with
a grilled cheese at the new Melt House at
the base of Chairlift #14, or leave the hill for
the Mammoth Rock ’n’ Bowl with its
bowling lanes, golf simulator, bar and
restaurant. To quench your thirst, try the
Eastern Sierra Brewery Tour of three local
microbreweries, or a whisky tasting at the
new Shelter Distillery, then explore the
always lively Mammoth nightlife.
Spring Activities
Often considered just a “shoulder season”
between skiing and fishing, spring around
Mammoth Lakes offers great deals on
lodging and activities for those looking for
some late-season sunny skiing (Mammoth
Mountain often stays open past Memorial
Day) or some early biking and fishing. Some
people try for the “spring triathlon” of
skiing, biking and fishing in a single day.
Spring is also a good time for birding, when
visitors can see many of the 300 species of
local and migratory birds that have been
spotted in the area, including the horde of
50,000 California gulls nesting at Mono
Lake each year. The new Bleu Market and
Eatery can provide fresh provisions for any
day exploring the outdoors.
Fall Colors
Fall foliage is a treat for the eyes around
Mammoth Lakes. Enjoy hiking through the
colors in the crisp fall air on the Mammoth
Rock Trail or the Heart Lake Trail, or even
stay for a couple of days amidst the trees at
the Sherwin Creek Campground. Go for a
drive around winding mountain roads of
the June Lake Loop to see the spectacular
colors in groves of aspens and cottonwood
trees below towering pine forests. You can
soar above the colors on helicopter tours.
Or go back in time and join a multi-day
horseback ride down from the hills. For a
spooky Halloween, or any quiet day, visit
the ghost town within Bodie State Park, the
abandoned remnants of a gold mining set-
tlement about 60 miles north.
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