Mammoth Lakes, CA

1. Mammoth Mountain

This massive ski resort is located just west of Mammoth Mountain, on Mammoth Mountain. Mammoth Mountain is over 57,000 years old, formed by volcanic eruptions, but today it’s home to an amazing resort that is open year round for activities. With over 3,500 acres of terrain suitable for skiing and boarding, and almost thirty lifts to get patrons to the summit, Mammoth Mountain has well groomed slopes for skiers, snowboarders, snow tubes, and more. There’s a tube park and snow play area for kids, snowmobile and snowshoeing trails, terrain parks, and heated snowcat rides, as well as a gondola which takes guests to the very top of the 11,053 foot high mountain’s peak, where they will find amazing views, a cafe with great food, and an interpretive center with really fascinating exhibits about the mountain.

2. Convict Lake

In September of 1871, a group of convicts broke out of a Carson City, Nevada prison and made their way to the place that is now known as Convict Creek. Police and their posse exchanged fire with the convicts and the situation turned bloody. This beautiful lake in the Sherwin Range section of the Sierra Nevada mountains, which the creek connects to, is named after that encounter, but the original Paiute name is Wit-sa-nap. Convict Lake is an extremely popular spot for fishing, and it is regularly stocked during the summertime with rainbow trout due to high demand, but fishing enthusiasts can also find German Brown Trout and sucker fish in the lake as well. The lake is incredibly scenic, with mountains rising up on all sides, and there is a three mile hiking loop around the lake as well as a trail that leads to the Sierra Crest.

3. Rainbow Falls

Part of Devil’s Postpile National Monument, Rainbow Falls is a 101 foot high waterfall that is named for the constant rainbows that can be seen in the abundant mist. Rainbow Falls is best viewed around noon, when the sun is at its highest, because at this time the rainbows are the clearest and brightest (and best for picture taking). Raimbow Falls is surrounded by tall cliffs and green trees, and the water is part of the San Joaquin River. Shuttles from Mammoth Adventure Center can take visitors to the falls, and personal vehicles can park at the trailhead parking lot, though it does fill quickly. The hike to the falls is a short one, only about 1.3 miles each way, and the trail is sandy and often quite populated with other hikers and horseback riders.

End of CA-203 West, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, Phone: 760-934-2289

4. Devils Postpile National Monument

The long, hexagonal columns of rock that make up the Devils Postpiles were formed tens of thousands of years ago by volcanic lava, which cooled and cracked to form the unique geological phenomenon. First established as a national monument by proclamation of the president in 1911, Devil’s Postpile was once part of Yosemite National Park until the mining industry separated it from the rest of the region. Devil’s Postpile National Monument is home to this incredible 60 foot high formation, known in the geology world as columnar basalt, but it is also home to several other great and beautiful hiking destinations, including the 101 foot high spectacle that is Rainbow Falls.

Devils Postpile Access Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, Phone: 760-934-2289

5. Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center

There’s so much to do in Mammoth Lakes, from hiking, biking, and fishing to visiting local festivals and exploring the town itself, and the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center is here to provide visitors with all the tools they need for the best visit possible. At Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, people can rent bear boxes and purchase back country permits for camping trips in the great and beautiful wild, and receive information and referrals about attractions and activities in the area, including hiking trails and campsites. The welcome center also has a small shop where customers can purchase lovely souvenirs and memorabilia pertaining to Mammoth Lakes and all its attractions. The Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

2510 Highway 203br, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, Phone: 760-924-5500

6. Lake Mary

As the name implies, Mammoth Lakes is home to some pretty spectacular bodies of water, and the largest of these lakes is Lake Mary. Located in the John Muir Wilderness at 8,900 feet elevation, and surrounded by mountain peaks and gorgeous scenery, Lake Mary is a beautiful destination known for fishing and angling, and is stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout. The campground at Lake Mary features four loops of closely situated camp sites, which feature campfire rings and flush toilets in the vicinity. Many of the campsites are within view of the lake itself, making for an amazing view first thing in the morning. There are no hiking trails that begin directly in the campsite, but the John Muir Wilderness and the area surrounding Lake Mary feature plenty of amazing and beautiful hiking options.

Pacu Ln, Bishop, CA 93514, Phone: 760-924-5500

7. Minaret Vista

The Minaret Vista is a viewpoint that shows off one of the jewels of the Ritter Range, the jagged and dramatic Minarets. These rocky spires are stark against the sky and make for an iconic and easily recognizeable trademark of Mammoth Lakes. From this amazing viewpoint, visitors can also see two of the tallest peaks in the range - Mount Ritter (13,157 feet) and Banner Peak (12,945 feet), and after the sun goes down, Minaret Vista makes for an amazing spot to go stargazing. The Minaret Vists can be reached by hiking or driving, and during the winter, the remote spot can be accessed via snowshoes, cross country skiing, or through a snowcat tour from Mammoth Mountain resort.

Lookout Point Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

If you are planning a family ski vacation, watch this video of the June Mountain Ski Area and Mammoth Lakes

8. Mammoth Brewing Company

Since 1995, Mammoth Brewing Company has been creating spectacular beer in the community of Mammoth Lakes. At their brewery, tasting room, and beer garden, which is located right in the heart of Mammoth Lakes, customers can try some of their beers in a flight, taster, or pint, enjoy a bite to eat, and even fill a growler or crowler to take home with them. Some of Mammoth Brewing Company’s most popular year-round brews include Golden Trout Kolsch, Yosemite Pale Ale, Epic IPA, and Double Nut Brown, but they also feature a wide variety of seasonal and rotating beers as well. Guests will also love the Mammoth Brewing Company tasting room because it is home to The Eatery, a low key but delicious establishment which operates right out of the brewery to serve everything from burgers to naan tacos.

18 Lake Mary Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, Phone: 760-934-7141

9. Hot Creek

Hot Creek is aptly named. It refers to a geologic site in Mammoth Lakes that lies about three miles above the surface of an underground chamber of magma. The heat from the volcanic activity below the earth’s surface sends hot gas and boiling water bubbling up to the surface, gaining pressure and heat along the way until it turns to gusts of steam when it reaches the air. The creek that results is hot and dangerous, and visitors are prohibited from entering the water, but it sure is beautiful to look at, with a bubbling creek bed, occasional geyser eruptions, and steaming holes in the ground called fumaroles.

10. Crystal Lake Trail

This gorgeous hike leads to a stunning blue lake that reflects the sky, bordered at its edges by tall evergreen trees and the rocky crags of the mountains that rise above. The hike in is not long, only about 1.75 miles, with an elevation gain of 900 feet, making it quite steep in places, and very strenuous, but with many beautiful spots to stop and rest along the way. The hike to the lake should take about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete each way, but at the lake itself there are also lots of great places to wander and explore, including the lake itself, the surrounding rocks and trees, and a trail that goes all the way around the edges of the lake that can be quite tricky for beginners, as it does include some bouldering and scrambling.

Crystal Lake Trail, Inyo National Forest, Lake George Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546