Mammoth Mountain with ski runs toward the top and the city of Mammoth Lakes hidden in the trees on the lower slopes.

Mammoth Lakes [1] is a resort city next to Mammoth Mountain which is a popular skiing destination. Mammoth Lakes is in the Eastern Sierra region of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

Understand

The Sierra Nevada mountains are a popular snow skiing destination. For Californians living in Los Angeles, Mammoth Mountain is by far the nearest and easiest to get to ski resort in the Sierra.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes serves one main function: a place for these hordes of Los Angeleans to stay. A remarkable number of condos, motels, hotels, and restaurants fill this small town to serve this flood of winter visitors.

In summer Mammoth is a base for outdoor activities of every kind. There are two golf courses, trout fishing is very popular, the ski area converts to a mountain bike park and hiking. Many people visit in the summer to attend a number of special events with Jazz Jubilee, Bluesapalooza, Mammoth Motorcross, etc.http://www.visitmammoth.com/calendar/index.cfm The abundance of condos and motels rooms causes nightly rents to drop dramatically. At 8000 feet in elevation, Mammoth Lakes is naturally cool in a region that is otherwise prone to high summer temperatures.

Get in

By air

A small airstrip lies just east of US 395. But unless you're planning on staying within Mammoth, you'll need to rent a car.

By car

Nearby US 395 brings visitors from the south (Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and the north (Reno). Highway 120 (Tioga Road) from Yosemite is passable only in summer and early fall. Interstate 80 and US 50 provide cross-mountain access from San Francisco Bay Area during the winter months, subject to icy conditions and closure due to blizzards.

Get around

Between the city of Mammoth Lakes and the Mammoth Mountain resort, a bike will do fine in summer. Frequent trams run between the town and the slopes during the winter, with outside racks for skis and snowboards. For everything else, you need a car.

See

• Hot Creek Geological Area (On a dirt road just east of the airport, which is just south along US395). An area of of hot springs and steam in a very small canyon. Although swimming is permitted in the main stream, you can get burned. Several pools are scalding hot and will result in death if you jump in. Please see warning signs posted by the US Forest Service before attempting to swim. Hot Creek is currently closed due to increased goethermal activity.
• Mammoth Mountain. In winter, this is the main ski resort. In summer the gondola will take you to the top, and the view is amazing. Bring warm clothes for the top.

Do

• Ski (Fall, Winter and Spring, depending on precipitation). Most years the ski season extends until July 4th.
• Mountain Biking (Summer only). The ski resort will carry your bike up to the top of the mountain so you can coast down it. Rentals available.
• Fish. The many lakes in the lake basin just west of the city (and north of the mountain) are popular. Boat rentals available.

Eat

Mammoth Lakes has dozens of restaurants, ranging from fast food to gourmet.

• Base Camp Cafe, 3325 Main St., (760) 934-3900. Good burgers and sandwiches. You can order a brown bag meal to take skiing or hiking.

The Village offers many different restaurants with different types of foods and price ranges.

Sleep

• Discovery 4 Condominiums, 25 Lee Rd., (760) 934-6410, [2]. Condos that are affordable. Adequately well-kept, but not more so.
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 3236 Main St (Hwy 203), (760) 924-1234, [3].
• Motel 6, 3372 Main Street, (760) 934-6660, Fax: (760) 934-6989, [4].

Get out

Bodie State Historic Park

• Bodie an old ghost town from the gold digger era
• Mono Lake a natural basin in the middle of the mountains
• Yosemite National Park
• Manzanar
• Bristlecone Pines of the White Mountains.