Mammoth Lakes, California, is the quintessential vacation destination. Located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mammoth serves visitors for skiing in the winter and offers many great summer activities. It’s a very popular location for people from the greater Los Angeles area who want to get away from the rat race. Here’s a summary of the kind of weather to expect at Mammoth during the summer, brought to you by the friendly folks at ASO Mammoth, your year-round one-stop shop for everything from fishing gear to mountain biking equipment and Mammoth snowboard rentals.
Mammoth is mostly drier during the summer, with warmer days that average in the low 70s in June and the higher 70s in July and August. At night, the temperature drops to the chilly lower 40s in June and the higher 40s in July and August, so you’ll need a good winter jacket for the evenings.
Even though the days are mostly dry, Mammoth can get thunderstorms in the summer that can quickly drop a lot of rain in a short amount of time. The tricky thing if you’re out hiking is that you’ll see just white, puffy clouds, but as the day progresses, you’ll see the clouds expand and turn quite dark in a short amount of time. Those are the thunderheads developing. It’s important to stay aware of this phenomenon if you’re out boating or hiking so you can take cover and be safe. Mammoth’s neighbors to the north around Lake Tahoe get the brunt of this type of activity. Most of the time in the summer, though, you’ll look up and see beautiful blue skies. Just be prepared with proper rain gear. If you’re out in the woods, carry a waterproof but breathable rain shell.
In the afternoon around 3:30pm, you can almost always count on the wind to pick up a bit. Mammoth is also very arid, so you won’t have any problems with humidity. Make sure to bring lip balm, sunscreen, and hand lotion.
Popular activities in the summer in Mammoth include bicycling, road and mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, trail running, dog walking, backpacking, rock climbing, and stand-up paddling on the lakes. There are also the more exotic adventures, such as having fun with trampolines, ziplines, and rock climbing at the Mammoth Adventure Center.
Popular destinations for hiking abound in the Mammoth Lakes Basin area. There are many trailheads that will take you to beautiful alpine lakes or incredible mountain vistas. Mountain bikers will enjoy the Mammoth Bike Park, with its 80 miles of single-track trails. There are beginner trails, such as the Downtown Mountain Bike Trail. There are also fast downhill adventures that await expert riders, such as the Off the Top Trail that takes you down from the summit. Roadie riders enjoy Benton Crossing Road (also known as Green Church Road), the popular June Lake Loop, and the Red Meadows Ride. Kayakers and stand-up paddlers can be seen at Lake Mary. You can also take side trips to Bodie State Historic Park, Yosemite National Park, and Mono Lake in the summer.
Whether they need fishing gear, mountain biking equipment, or high-quality ski rentals, Mammoth visitors can find everything they need at ASO Mammoth. Drop by our store on your way to the lake or give us a call at 760-965-3444.