Guide to Mammoth Lakes, CA
Picture by Stephen Leonardi
Located between the states of California and Nevada, the Sierra Nevada features plenty of hidden gems. This includes many towns and parks. Among those, Mammoth Lakes. This small town of California attracts many and serves as a year-round gateway to the outdoors activities of the region. Where to stay? What to do? How to get there? Let’s answer all these questions.
Updated: 6/25/2026
Mammoth Lakes; a Brief Overview
Mammoth Lakes is a town and mountain resort within the state of California. Known mostly for its premier winter atmosphere, it is also a major hub for year round activities like hiking, camping or kayaking. The many lakes, forests and surrounding mountains provide a vast playground for visitors to adventure in.
The Village at Mammoth acts as a central point for the town with dining facilities and entertainment. West to the village lies the ski area which also serves for summer activities like mountain biking. The surroundings of this area contain plenty of hiking trails and overlooks.
The Village at Mammoth
Where is Mammoth Lake? How to get there?
As already mentioned, Mammoth lake is located in the state of California. It is about 5H from Las Vegas, 6H from Los Angeles and 6H away from San Francisco. It is also noteworthy to mention that it is near (about 1H to 2H away) from Yosemite National Park depending on the area you go to.
The main way to get there is to drive. The town of Mammoth Lakes is accessible by taking the highway 395 and then exiting for highway 203.
You may also fly to the area by taking a regional flight to Mammoth Yosemite Airport.
Where to stay in Mammoth Lakes?
The town of Mammoth Lakes is fairly small, and no other comparable towns can be found nearby. This means that you will be most likely to stay there. There are multiple hotels in town.
How and where to camp in Mammoth Lakes? With the vast amount of protected areas, there are several campgrounds available. Most of those campgrounds are closed during winter.
Camping in Mammoth Lakes
Note also that wild animals are common in the area, this includes bears.
Nearest to the city:
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Camp High Sierra
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Mammoth Campground
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Pine Glen Group Campground
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Old Shady Rest Campground
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New Shady Rest Campground
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Twin Lakes Campground
What to do in Mammoth Lakes during summer?
Mammoth Lakes offers plenty of activities in both summer and winter. Let’s focus on the summer activities available in the area.
1. Hike to Devil’s Postpile
Located within the eponymous national monument, Devil’s Postpile is a rare rock formation of columnar basalt. It is accessible via a ¼ miles hiking trail. Please, see the directions part for more information regarding the bus season and mandatory shuttle.
Admission (Devil's Postpile National Monument): Those coming via the shuttle do not need to pay an admission fee, but only their shuttle ticket. Visitors allowed with their own vehicles will need to pay a standard fee of $15 per adults.
Direction for shuttle:
​During the Shuttle Bus Season, visitors must take a shuttle to access the area – unless they have special circumstances. This shuttle runs through the valley and stops at multiple points, including the different trailhead of Devil’s Postpile National Monument. The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Shuttle goes from the Village at Mammoth to Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. This first portion is free and operates only until 9am. From the Main Lodge, visitors will need to pay a ticket ($15) for adults and ride the Red Meadow/ Devils Postpile shuttle. Find more information here.
2. Rainbow Falls
Accessible via a 2.5 mile walk, Rainbow Falls is a 101 foot fall you can see. Although the hike is of moderate difficulty, visitors are encouraged to bring plenty of water. Since the landmark is within the Devil’s Postpile National Monument, visitors are required to take the shuttle during certain seasons.
Admission (Devil's Postpile National Monument): Those coming via the shuttle do not need to pay an admission fee, but only their shuttle ticket. Visitors allowed with their own vehicles will need to pay a standard fee of $15 per adults.
Direction for shuttle:
​During the Shuttle Bus Season, visitors must take a shuttle to access the area – unless they have special circumstances. This shuttle runs through the valley and stops at multiple points, including the different trailhead of Devil’s Postpile National Monument. The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Shuttle goes from the Village at Mammoth to Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. This first portion is free and operates only until 9am. From the Main Lodge, visitors will need to pay a ticket ($15) for adults and ride the Red Meadow/ Devils Postpile shuttle. Find more information here.
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3. Twin Falls Overlook
The Twin Falls Overlook is a viewpoint with views over the twin lakes, but also the trailhead to falls that connect Twin and Mamie Lakes. It offers some beautiful views and is accessible both in the summer and winter. Snowshoes and skiing are required in the winter though.
Admission: FREE
Address of Parking:​ Inyo National Forest, 4500 Lake Mary Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Picture by Craig Measel
4. Hot Creek Geological Site
With its variety of blue worthy of an artist's palette, Hot Creek is among the most popular attractions in the area of Mammoth Lakes. The site features several pools of hot water — thanks to the active geology — that you can either watch from a viewpoint or a trail. It’s easily among the best sites in the area. Note however, that swimming is prohibited.
Admission: FREE
Address of Parking:​ Hot Creek Hatchery Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
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Picture by Matty Cave
5. Crowley Lake Stone Columns
Not too far from Hot Creek, visitors can also visit the Crowley Lake Stone Columns, a unique formation of white rock shaped in arches and columns. Those can only be seen when lake water level is low, via a trail involving some steep slopes. In addition, a 4WD vehicle is recommended as the roads to get there tend to get bumpy. We would add that having a card helps a lot with locating with the trail.
Admission: FREE
Address of Parking:​ H7RW+27 Crowley Lake, California
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6. Mono Lake
Not too far (33 min) north of Mammoth Lake, you will find Mono Lake, an hypersaline lake with a unique ecosystem. The lake features limestone spines and spires you can hike to. You may also kayak and swim in the lake. The hypersalinity of the lake can be irritating, so swims are limited in time.
Admission: $3 per adults. Some areas are free of access.
Address of South Tufa Interpretive Trail: ​ Parking lot, Test Station Rd, Lee Vining, CA 93541
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7. Parker Lake Trailhead
If you love alpine lakes with grey summits, you will certainly like Parker Lake. That lake located about 35min away from Mammoth Lake is accessible via a 4-mile (round trip) hiking trail of moderate difficulty. The access to the trailhead is a dirt road, so 4WD vehicles are encouraged.
Admission: Free
Address of Trailhead: ​ Unnamed Rd, Inyo National Forest,, June Lake, CA 93529
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8. Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center
If you’d like to get acquainted with the area of Mammoth Lakes and its main features, we would definitely recommend visiting the welcome center of the town. There you’ll be able to learn a lot about the town, and you’ll be able to ask the questions you may have.
Admission: Free
Address of Trailhead: ​ 2510 Main St, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
9. Woolly’s Adventure Summit
To change a little bit from the hiking trails and natural landmarks, let’s now get some thrills. The Wooly’s Adventure Summit is an amusement park offering a wide variety of attractions like tubing, mountain coasters, zip and lines and more. It’s a great place for the whole family, and it is open year-round.
Admission: Vary based on attractions and dates. Passes are available for unlimited rides during a specific time period.
Address of Trailhead: ​ 9000 Minaret Rd #200, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
F.A.Q
Are there grocery stores in Mammoth Lakes?
Yes, there are several general/grocery stores in Mammoth Lakes. Note however, that those tend to be smaller. There are no Walmart-type stores.
How is the weather in Mammoth Lakes?
Mammoth Lakes has cold winters with yearly snowfall, and warm summers. Below is a list of average temperatures by season:
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Spring: 30s - 60s
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Summer: 40s - 80s
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Fall: 30s - 60s
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Winter: 10s to 40s
