Mammoth Lakes - Summer &
Winter
Paiute Indians spent their summers around Mammoth
-- mostly in the Sherwin Meadows -- hunting and grazing
animals. Then, miners arrived in the Eastern Sierra, at
the time of the Comstock Lode discovery 200 miles to the
north, in Nevada.
Three major mining camps were formed in and
around Mammoth in 1879, but fires soon destroyed the
camps and -- by 1888 -- the mining towns had mostly
disappeared. But tourism became an attraction, and in the
1920s and 30s, several lodges were constructed, including
Tamarack Lodge which is still in operation on Twin Lakes.
During the 1940s, skiing had expanded to June Mountain
and became the engine which began to drive the local
economy. Mammoth took off as a major resort town.
The ski area has the longest season of any
in California, and attracts skiers from across the
continent. Cross-country skiing is fast becoming a major
sport. Tamarack Lodge Ski Area boasts 28 miles of groomed
trails that lead through more than 3,500 acres of forest
and lakes.
Recent earthquakes in the Mammoth Lakes
area have not deterred skiers, nor the local residents
from servicing the needs of the thousands of tourists who
visit the town. This has always been a quake-prone area,
although the rumblings have been a bit stronger than
usual.
What to See and Do
Sightseeing
Two excellent places provide viewpoints
from which to see the stunning landscape of the Mammoth
Lakes region. Panorama Dome -- reached by either
Main Street (which becomes Lake Mary Road) or the winding
Old Mammoth Road -- offers a great view of the town lying
below, and the surrounding peaks. Minaret Vista
also offers fine views, including the canyon of the
Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, and the Minarets
which are seen beyond the Ritter Range.
Picnic tables are found at the Vista, and a
self-guiding tour takes you to geological highlights
along the ridge. It is off Minaret Road, west of the
Mammoth Lakes Ski Area.
Devil's Postpile
Minaret Road leads on, down the
mountainside, to Devil's Postpile National
Monument. From the parking lot, shuttle busses take
you to the floor of the San Joaquin River Valley, with
great views of the huge basalt columns, a volcanic
formation which was created over millions of years. The
effect of glaciers is seen when viewing the large slabs
of broken posts above the river. The Monument is open
only during summer months -- from early June. Rainbow
Falls is seen by taking a short trail, which leads to the
riverside below the falls. Several campgrounds are
available along the river, inside the Monument. Red
Meadows Resort has cabins and a restaurant, as well as
fishing supplies and a pack station which offers trail
rides. For information on the resort, call (619)
934-2345.
Outdoors
Nine nearby lakes in the Inyo National
Forest provide opportunities for canoeing and
fishing. A chain of lakes is reached via Lake Mary Road,
and motorboats are permitted on Mary and Mamie lakes. The
other lakes are open to boats and canoes without motors.
Visitor facilities including a store, picnic areas, and
accommodations, on Twin lakes, Lake Mary, Lake Mamie, and
Lake George. There's a picnic area with a sandy beach at
Horseshoe Lake. A trail, with trailheads at lake Mary and
Lake George campgrounds, leads southwest to another chain
of small alpine lakes, ending at Duck Lake.
Pack stations offer scenic trail rides
throughout the Mammoth Lakes area. Mammoth Lakes Pack
Outfit (619-934-2345) is based near Lake Mary,
offering hourly rides in the immediate area, and
overnight camp trips through the John Muir and Ansel
Adams Wilderness areas, as well as in the Valentine and
Laurel Lakes basin. Sierra Meadows Equestrian
Center (934-6161) has guided trail rides by the hour
or day, and offers riding instruction. Agnew Meadows
Pack Station (619-934-2345) is near the Devil's
Postpile entrance, offering day rides plus longer six-day
and eight-day trips into the wilderness areas, including
a ride to Toluene Meadows in Yosemite National Park.
McGee Creek Pack Station (619-935-4324), also
offers a variety of trail rides.
There are two golf courses in the area: the
quite new Snowcreek Golf Course offers nine holes
and a driving range, and you'll find a 18-hole course in
Bishop, south of Mammoth via Highway 395.
The town's Parks and Recreation Department
operates several parks and recreation sites, including
the large Whitmore Pool, located ten miles south
of town. This outdoor swimming pool provides great views
of the Eastern Sierra and White Mountains. Shady Rest
Park, at the end of Sawmill Cutoff, has a playground,
picnic area, and sand volleyball court. Mammoth Creek
Park, a newer facility on Old Mammoth Road, has
picnic tables and a playground. Community Center
Park, next to the library on Forest Trail, also has
picnicking, with tennis courts and another playground.
A 50-mile bike trail system winds through
the forest lands, and a trail map is available at the
National Forest Information Center, on the entry
road to Mammoth. It's also available at bike shops and
the town Visitor Bureau. For all the information
you need on skiing and other activities available in the
Mammoth area, call the Bureau at (619) 934-2712, or visit
the Visitor Bureau on Main Street.
