Mammoth Lakes -
Get in
By air
A small airstrip lies just east of US395. But unless you're planning on staying within Mammoth, you'll need to rent a car.
By car
Nearby US395 brings visitors from the south (Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and the north (Reno). Mountain roads from Yosemite are passable only in summer. Interstates 80 and 50 provide cross-mountain access from San Francisco Bay Area during the winter months, subject to icy conditions and closure due to blizzards.
Activities
• Ski (Fall, Winter and Spring, depending on precipitation).
• Mountain Biking (Summer only). The ski resort will carry your bike up to the top of the mountain so you can coast down it. Rentals available.
• Fish. The many lakes in the lake basin just west of the city (and north of the mountain) are popular. Boat rentals available.
The Sierra Nevada mountains are a popular snow skiing destination. For Californians living in Los Angeles, Mammoth Mountain is by far the nearest and easiest to get to ski resort in the Sierra.
The city of Mammoth Lakes serves one main function: a place for these hordes of Los Angeleans to stay. A remarkable number of condos, motels, hotels, and restaurants fill this small town to serve this flood of winter visitors.
In summer, the flood stops. The abundance of condos and motels rooms causes nightly rents to drop dramatically. At 8000 feet in elevation, Mammoth Lakes is naturally cool in a region that is otherwise prone to high summer temperatures. Get around
Between the city of Mammoth Lakes and the Mammoth Mountain resort, a bike will do fine in summer. Frequent trams run between the town and the slopes during the winter, with outside racks for skis and snowboards. For everything else, you need a car.
Attractions
• Hot Creek Geological Area (On a dirt road just east of the airport, which is just south along US395). An area of hot springs and steam in a very small canyon. Although swimming is permitted in the main stream, you can get burned. Several pools are scalding hot and will result in death if you jump in. Please see warning signs posted by the US Forest Service before attempting to swim.
• Mammoth Mountain. In winter, this is the main ski resort. In summer the gondola will take you to the top, and the view is amazing. Bring warm clothes for the top.
Dining
Mammoth Lakes has dozens of restaurants, ranging from fast food to gourmet.
• Base Camp Cafe, 3325 Main St., (760) 934-3900. Good burgers and sandwiches. You can order a brown bag meal to take skiing or hiking.
Lodging
• Discovery 4 Condominiums, 25 Lee Rd., (760) 934-6410 - Condos that are affordable. Adequately well-kept, but not more so.
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 3236 Main St (Hwy 203), (760) 924-1234
• Motel 6, 3372 Main Street, (760) 934-6660, Fax: (760) 934-6989 -
Get out
• Bodie an old ghost town from the gold digger era
• Mono Lake a natural basin in the middle of the mountains
• Yosemite National Park
• Manzanar
• Bristlecone Pines of the White Mountains.
Adapted from WikiTravel under the Wiki License
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