Mammoth is a small mountain town in the Eastern Sierras in California. I had been a few times to ski during the winter, but finally decided to check it out during the summer in July 2020. Here is my 3 day summer itinerary for Mammoth!
My partner, Philip, and I booked an Airbnb in the Hidden Valley Village complex in Mammoth Lakes near Mammoth Brewery. The Airbnb was a simple studio, but had everything we needed. There was a jacuzzi on site, but it was closed due to COVID-19.
Day 1 in Mammoth
Gem Lakes via Little Lakes Hike
On day one we hiked to Gem Lakes which is technically in Bishop, CA. The trailhead is about 40 minutes from Mammoth Lakes – first you drive south to Tom’s Place and then on Rock Creek Road for another windy, slow 10 miles. The parking at the trailhead is very limited despite there being overflow parking, especially because roadside parking is not allowed (and not very possible). We arrived around 1pm on a Monday and found parking without any issue, but I’ve heard that weekend parking is a challenge and your next option is at least a few miles back from the trailhead.
The hike itself is moderate at about 7 miles round trip and ~1000 elevation gain. The true challenge is that the hike starts at ~10,000ft!
The name of the hike is on point with the many lakes you pass along the way. There were a lot of kids on this hike and many people fishing. The majority of hikers we passed did not go all the way to Gem Lake, but it is absolutely worth it as it was the true beauty. My second favorite lake was Long Lake. Both are great picnic spots!
Day 2 in Mammoth
Mountain Biking in Mammoth
On day two after making breakfast in the Airbnb, we headed to Main Lodge to rent mountain bikes and get a pass for the day. It costs ~$60 to rent a bike and ~$40 for an all day lift pass, though this can vary depending on the day and full vs partial day pass. Get your mountain bike passes online here.
There are only two lifts open for mountain biking, the Gondola and Chair 11. However, this does not mean there are only two trails to ride down. If you are an advanced mountain biker there are many trail options, and if you’re intermediate there are still plenty. I was really curious how to load my bike onto a chairlift, but turns out they do it for you 🙂
While I grew up biking on local trails in San Diego, this was my first time doing real mountain biking. My favorite trail was Brake Through which you can get to by getting off the Gondola at McCoy station. From Brake Through you can take Downtown all the way to downtown Mammoth which is a great long ride. From there, hop on the bike shuttle (included in your ticket) and ride back up.
Although it was not my favorite trail, it is worth it to take the Gondola to the top of the Mountain for the 360 degree view of the surrounding area. The trail down is doable, but is rather sandy and steep.
Mountain biking was awesome and I can’t wait to do it again! I do not recommend it to anyone that is not comfortable on a bike since even the intermediate runs have large rocks, tree roots, and tight turns.
Because I was in Mammoth during COVID-19, only The Yodler was open for food and drinks. This is a great option for lunch with a view!
Eat and Drink at Mammoth Brewery
We went to Mammoth Brewery for dinner after biking, which was a convenient 3 minute walk from the Airbnb. They have massive portions so be ready to either share or have leftovers. We split the carne asada nachos and a salad, and I drank the Pilsner. All of which were delicious!
Exploring Wild Willys
I have seen Wild Willy’s Hot Spring on just about everyone’s Instagram feed (same as you, right?), and wanted to finally check it out. I hoped that on a Tuesday evening it would be mellow with few people. Wrong! I don’t think Wild Willy’s will ever see a quiet day again. There were 50+ people in the two hot springs and many more camped or hanging out nearby.
The water is warm and the setting is beautiful with mountains on all sides. But the crowds, which I added to, detract from it and the water is silty and shallow.
Day 3 in Mammoth
Lounge at June Lake
Day 3 brought us to June Lake. We packed all the beach and picnic essentials, including a couple floaties. We set up camp at the June Lake beach on the northern side of the lake which is sandy and has shallow water. There is plenty of parking and space on the beach. We enjoyed a few hours of snacking, drinking hard kombuchas, and floating in the water.
Kayak on Lake Mary
After June Lake we drove to Lake Mary which was recommended by a friend. Lake Mary is just 15 minutes up the road from Mammoth Lakes and is in a pine forest. This is a great spot for fishing, kayaking, and SUPing because the Lake Mary Marina rents all of the above right on the shore. We rented a two person kayak and enjoyed paddling around the lake.
Final Thoughts
We fit a lot in during our 3 days in Mammoth, but there is always more to do. I am looking forward to another summer trip in the near future! On our way out we picked up a tasty pastry at Schats!
Other Things To Do
Devil’s Postpile – a unique rock formation on the backside of Mammoth
Rainbow Falls – a beautiful waterfall near Devil’s Postpile
Rope Swing at Gull Lake – Gull lake is adjacent to June Lake and has a rope you can swing into the lake
Convict Lake – lake south of Mammoth Lakes; hiking & views
Duck Lake – hike near Lake Mary
Minaret Lake – longer hike further west than Rainbow Falls
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