Nothing beats summertime in the mountains and if you love to put the great in great outdoors, then you’ll find plenty of epic adventures and beautiful scenery during the summer months in Mammoth Lakes, California, USA.

Mammoth Lakes is now open for leisure travel and looking forward to welcoming you back to the forest and mountains ensuring all follow the Covid-19 safety measures and travel guidelines. The town of Mammoth Lakes and its businesses are doing their part to keep tourists, workers, and the local community safe.

The weather in summer in Mammoth Lakes makes it perfect for you to enjoy everything; from heart-pounding mountain bike rides to fly fishing on peaceful lakes and streams, or a wilderness camping trip to a pleasant afternoon hike, shopping at some of Mammoth Lakes’ retail hot spots, or just letting the kids play in a giant sandbox while you sip a drink on one of the many restaurant patios. No matter your interests or ability level, this Eastern Sierra Mountain town has something for everyone. You can choose from some fun summer activities listed below that most likely involve the presence of nature’s jaw-dropping beauty.

Hiking and Backpacking

Mammoth Lakes is surrounded by two million acres of Inyo National Forest with dozens of hiking trails. These hikes are accessible via the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Shuttle in the summer months. Located only minutes from downtown Mammoth Lakes is the Mammoth Lake Basin which is a hiker’s wonderland. You can hike the Crystal Lake Trail which is a relatively short trail segment that connects you to the alpine beauty of Crystal Lake and provides panoramic views of the Mammoth Lakes Basin. You can also hike the Mammoth Rock Trail for mountain and valley views.

You can trek out on a backpacking trip taking the Shadow Creek Trail to the Minarets for an overnight trip or hike the John Muir Trail to Tuolumne Meadows. Barney and Duck Lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin are also a favorite backpacking trip with a shorter approach along Duck Pass Trail.

Biking

The terrain, sensational Sierra scenery and the famous California summer sunshine make an irresistible combination for mountain or road biking in Mammoth Lakes. You can take the Inyo National Forest’s vast network of trails and unpaved roads. Road bikers have plenty of asphalt routes to choose from, whether pedalling around town, gearing down to puff up Minaret Road to the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge and beyond to the breath-taking Minaret Vista or cruising the scenic stretches of US 395. Mammoth Lakes also has terrific bike events and rides for the single athlete or for the entire family.

Camping

The Mammoth Lakes area is home to more than 800 campsites, many of them located near alpine lakes and in forested streamside settings.

You can camp in the Mammoth Lakes Basin for easy access to hiking trails and alpine lakes or reserve a campsite at a campground in the town for easy access to restaurants and shops in town or can head to Reds Meadow to camp near hiking trails, with access to Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls.

Mountaineering and Rock Climbing

In the summer, the Mammoth Lakes area has mountaineering and rock climbing for everyone. You can hire a local guide to learn the ropes or take classes from California Alpine Guides, Sierra Mountain Guides, and Sierra Mountaineering International to get you acquainted with the area and the sport. You can start on the slabs behind Horseshoe Lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. For bouldering, another favorite is The Catacombs behind Crowley Lake overlooking the Owen’s Gorge. The Ground Up Climbing Guides offer you a chance to try out the sport on a guided trip. In addition to custom, guided climbing trips, Ground Up Climbing Guides also offer camps and clinics for a variety of skill levels.

Golfing

Pristine lakes, emerald fairways, and stunning mountain views inspire golfers to play at Mammoth Lakes’ two public courses, the Sierra Star Golf Course and the Snowcreek Golf Course. The Sierra Star Golf Course, at a full mile and a half (8,000 feet) above sea level is the highest-elevation 18-hole championship golf course in California. The challenging 9-hole, par-35 Snowcreek Golf Course is more exposed and rugged-feeling than Sierra Star and you can try Snowcreek’s ultra-scenic driving range with its newly installed water feature on the south side of Old Mammoth Road.

Horseback Riding

If you are looking for a guided horseback riding experience in Mammoth Lakes, the Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit offers a variety of trips for people of all skill levels, ages seven and up. There are trips to Mammoth Lakes Basin with panoramic views of Long Valley, Twin Lakes, and the waterfall between Lake Mamie and Twin Lakes. Other rides may take you to the Mammoth Consolidated Mine, Heart Lake, TJ and Barret Lakes, Lake George, the Mammoth Rim or McCleod Lake. There is an option an eight-hour ride as well that takes you to Barney Lake at the base of Duck Pass. Each summer, Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit offers a special multi-day trail ride to Bodie State Historic Park. The pack trip includes a full-service camp, with meals provided by a cook, and a knowledgeable guide to show you the Bodie ghost town and other sites along the way.

Water Activities

Fishing – With access to an abundance of high alpine lakes, reservoirs, streams, and creeks, Mammoth Lakes offers some of the best trout fishing in the world. Whether you prefer bait-setting from a folding chair on a sunny beach with a view, trolling from a boat, nymphing from a float-tube in the middle of a quiet pond or casting barbless midges from a grassy bank on a quiet oxbow, you’ll find plenty of places to try your hand at outsmarting a fish at the Monster rainbows, wise old browns, feisty brookies, and elusive native golden trout.

Boating, Kayaking & Paddle Boarding – Whether you’re paddling a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or motoring a pontoon boat or small fishing boat, getting out on the water of Mammoth Lakes offers a unique perspective and is an excellent way to observe waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife. You can spot 300 species of birds who frequent Mono Lake. Many visitors have even been thrilled to spot eagles and black bears during their boating adventure.

Swimming – A cool swim on a warm summer day is always enjoyable! You can take a dip in Horseshoe Lake, or hike to lakes in the upper Mammoth Lakes Basin and swim there. The relatively short hikes to McLeod and Crystal Lakes are ideally suited to this purpose. You could also join intrepid triathletes training at June Lake beach, or kick back and soak up some sunshine along the wide sandy shore. Locally, only Whitmore Pool is staffed with professional lifeguards. To unwind after a seriously strenuous adventure, you may discover a geothermally heated hot spring for a reviving, warm soak.