Where to Ride at Mammoth Mountain After a Storm
There isn’t a bad place to ride when heavy snow falls on Mammoth Mountain.
However, when you have over 3,500 acres of skiable terrain to choose from you need to know the best places to ski or snowboard before all the powder is gone. No one loves Mammoth Mountain snow as much as the ASO Mammoth team, and we want to help everyone who visits Mammoth enjoy it just as much as we do.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the first places to ski or snowboard after a storm hits Mammoth Mountain below! Check it out and then stop by ASO Mammoth for the best ski and snowboard rentals in Mammoth Lakes before you visit the mountain!
Summit Runs and Chair 23
Whether you love gliding through trees or live to fly down steep slopes, you have to ride the runs accessed from the Summit and Chair 23.
The runs off the summit are steep and meant for expert riders, but if there is powder on the mountain then they’re too good to miss riding at least once. The runs near Chair 23 are also steep, but add in chutes and other natural terrain to create the closest thing to big mountain riding you’ll find within a resort’s boundaries.
These runs can be intimidating to ride, so take advantage of the forgiving snow after a storm!
Chair 22
Chair 22 only goes halfway up Mammoth Mountain’s terrain, but the snow here is as good as anywhere on the mountain.
The black diamonds off Chair 22 are steep and full of trees and other natural features which will make each run feel completely unique. To make things even better, Chair 22’s location and access to expert terrain mean it’s one of the least crowded lifts on the mountain.
Between the trees, steep slopes, and deep snow, there is nowhere on Mammoth Mountain that will make you feel like a hero more than Chair 22.
Highway Express
If you’re an expert skier or snowboarder then you have to try the black diamonds off Highway Express after deep snow falls on Mammoth Mountain.
These runs are always worth riding, but after heavy snow the steep slopes make for the best riding on the entire mountain. Like Chair 22, Highway Express benefits from the fact that it doesn’t get crowded easily. Still the snow here is well known, so after a storm people will flock to Highway Express!
Chair 12
You don’t need to be an expert skier or snowboarder to have fun in fresh snow at Mammoth Mountain. Chair 12 offers plenty of intermediate groomed runs that are perfect for honing your skills with trees nearby in case you want to test yourself.
On top of that, Chair 12 is also located away from the base lodges, which means it is less likely to be crowded on peak days. Lastly, the number of intermediate runs allow you to ride here for as long as you’d like, and once you’re ready to push your skills there are plenty of other expert runs nearby for you to choose from.
The Backside of the Mountain
Lastly, if you’re visiting Mammoth after a storm then chances are you’re not the only one.
When the crowds hit Mammoth Mountain, the backside of the mountain can be a great escape filled with dreamy powder and short lift lines. Although most of the terrain on the backside is meant for intermediate riders, the trees and black diamonds here will keep riders of any skill level happy!