Mammoth Lakes ski resort guide & reviews Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do at Mammoth Lakes
Overview
Set high in the Eastern Sierra mountains in California, Mammoth Lakes is one of the largest skiing areas in America and extremely popular given its proximity to major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. With 3500+ acres, over 33 feet of dry powder snow each year, a ski season typically lasting from November to June and around 300 days of sunshine, its no wonder by this giant attracts skiers and boarders from around the world.
Mammoth Lakes après-ski
The Village at Mammoth is the place to be after a fun-filled day of skiing or snowboarding. Activities around town include shopping, dining, wine bars, movies, dancing and more.
Spa & Wellness
Mammoth Lakes has several state of the art spas and wellness facilities that offer therapeutic massage as well as facials, full body scrubs, body wraps, infared sauna and hot whirlpool spas - the perfect tonic after a long day on the slopes.
Children
Located in the Mammoth Mountain Inn at Main Lodge and at the Village at Mammoth, Woolly’s Forest Child Care offers daily and weekly programs, including ski/snowboard lessons and infant and child care for children up to 8.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 2424m |
| Top lift | 3369m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 90 |
| Ski area (acre) | 3500 |
| Longest run | 5 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 30 km |
| Season | Nov - June |
| Snowboard parks | 7 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Lively |
Mammoth Lakes ski area guide
The sheer size of the ski area can be daunting. With over 3500 acres to explore, this is a ski resort where you will definitely need more than a week to get round all the trails. Mammoth Mountain also offers diversity from the challenging black pistes such as from the top of Dave's Run to the gentle beginner trails off of the Discovery Chair lift - there is something for all ages and levels.
Beginners
Some gentle slopes at the base of the mountain is where beginners first learn the basics before progressing further afield where there are many well connected long and broad beginner boulevards across the whole mountain.
Intermediate
There's no issue regarding getting bored and skiing the same run twice at Mammoth. There is literally miles and miles of fabulously long intermediate runs around the entire mountain.
Advanced
In an area the size of Mammoth, you are guaranteed terrain that will test the best of the best with deep powder bowls, cliffs and couloirs. The Paranoids, known for being steep, narrow and technical, drop off the top of Mammoth’s crest and are for experts only!
Snowboard
Unlike some resorts, snowboarding is permitted across the entire mountain. So away from the excellent terrain parks and three different-sized halfpipes, snowboarders can experience long cruising runs in every direction. For the more advanced, the back-country bowls are not to be missed.
Mammoth Lakes lodging
Ski chalets, lodges and condos on the slopes, some ski-in, ski-out, the accommodation in Mammoth Lakes is one of the reasons why so many people come back year after year. It's not cheap compared to some other resorts but its high quality and everything from the lifts to the shops, bars and restaurants are on your door-step.
See all rentalsThings to see & do at Mammoth
Off the slopes, there are plenty of other activities to keep children and adults entertained including:
- Ski bikes
- Snowmobile tours around the Upper Lakes Basin
- Snowcat tours
- Tobogganing at East Fork Snopark 15 mins south of Mammoth
- Wooly's tube park
- Guided snowshoeing
- Ice skating
- Sleigh rides
- Dog sledding
Mychaletfinder's view on Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes mountain is a ski resort for everyone to enjoy on and off the slopes. In a nutshell, its great fun, family friendly, offers superb skiing with guaranteed snow, a very long season and lots of that famous Californian sunshine!
