If you’ve ever been to a major theme park then you know that as great as the rides, shows, and sights are, it can be overwhelming to plan out how you’re going to see them all. For better or worse, Mammoth Lakes is like Disneyland for outdoors sports every season.
If you’re having trouble deciding what to do during your visit to Mammoth Lakes, then check out ASO Mammoth’s guide to Mammoth Lakes by season below!
Winter
Mammoth Mountain is world famous for its snow, terrain, and winter storms that create some of the best skiing and snowboarding on Earth. If you’re looking for something else to do in Mammoth Lakes during the winter though, we’ve got you covered.
Scenic Gondola Rides
It doesn’t get better than enjoying the beauty of the Eastern Sierra with a bird’s eye view, and thanks to the scenic gondola tour you can do just that without hiking through the snow. Once you’re at the summit, get all the pictures you could ever want from 11,000 ft.
Wooly’s Tube Park
Wooly’s Tube Park is another great option for family fun at Mammoth Mountain where adults can watch their kids tube down the groomed slopes from the heated deck that offers warm refreshments.
Spring
Trying to find the best thing to do outside during spring in Mammoth Lakes is like trying to find the best candy to eat at Wonka’s Candy Factory thanks to the snow on the mountains, trails in the meadows, and fish in the streams. We’ve listed some of the best things to do below!
Hike
Do yourself a favor and watch spring spread through the Mammoth Lakes wilderness with a hike. Although your options may be limited by snow, trails at lower elevations like the Sherwin Lakes trail are among the first to open for hiking.
Fishing
There are 5 different types of trout in Mono County alone, making Mammoth Lakes a fisherman’s paradise. We recommend sticking to fishing in still bodies of water at lower elevations where the water isn’t muddied by melt runoff and the fish have had a chance to warm up and are active.
Biking
Mammoth Lakes’ elevation will test road cyclist and mountain bikers more than ever before, but the views and terrain are worth every drop of sweat. For road courses, check out the Mammoth Lakes Scenic Loop or the June Lake Loop, and for mountain biking start by choosing whichever trail matches your skill level here.
Summer
Even when the snow melts, there is still plenty to do in Mammoth Lakes. Although you can do most of the same things you can do in the spring, there’s nothing like camping during the summer.
Although swimming and wading in the lake is not allowed, you will be surrounded by spectacular views of the Eastern Sierras along with plenty of trails to access them by when camping at the Lake Mary Campground. The Lake Mary Campground fills up fast and stays that way all summer, so always make a reservation in advance! If the lakeside campsite is full, try the Coldwater Campground nearby. What it lacks in views it makes up for in access to nearby trailheads and other activities.
Fall
Although hiking, biking, and fishing are still available, the name of the game for Mammoth Lakes in the fall is the color of the leaves on the trees. Horseshoe Lake Loop is one of our favorite places to view fall colors thanks to its wide 1.7 mile trail that circles around Horseshoe Lake.