Mammoth Mountain
Snowman Report
Featuring Daily Snow, Weather, Travel, FAQ, Community & Adventure
Monday, August 17th, 2026 @ 8 AM – Good morning, and thanks for stopping by MammothSnowman.com.
Today’s windowcast shows clear skies over Mammoth Mountain and across the Eastern Sierra. Temps this morning are nice and cool, with a 52 up top and a 61 at the 8,900-foot level at Main Lodge and in the Mammoth Lakes Basin.
If you’re in town this week, the Mountain Bike Park is in amazing shape; try a lap “Off the Top” or a nice downhill run on “Skid Marks”. Hiking in the whole local basin right now is great with clear skies and fewer people. Any trail out of the Lakes Basin, Rock Creek Canyon, McGee Canyon, or Bishop Creek Canyon is all-time.
Mammoth Weather Forecast: If you’re out and about this week, expect mostly clear skies with a few high clouds at times. Temps will be in the low to mid 70s for afternoon highs with chilly mornings in the mid 50s around the Main Lodge at the 8,900-foot level. SW winds will be 5-10 mph with gusts to 20 – 30 mph.
Mammoth Lakes will have clear skies with upper 70s into Monday, then low to mid 80s. Overnight lows in the low to mid 50s. SW Winds 5-10 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
Get my full Mammoth Weather Extended Discussion along with an updated Fall and Winter outlook from 8/16 at our Mammoth Weather page here.
Mountain Biking Mammoth – Conditions Report: The mountain bike park is about 100% open sans a couple of connector trails that are closed for ski area snowmaking work. Conditions in the park are amazing, especially now that everything is open. You will find a mix of loose and still frim dirt mixed in with lots of crushed pumice out there.
Fun times for sure; Fridays seem to be the best day right now with light crowds and lots of laps chair 4 and the lower gondi.
USFS Trails are open and in good condition; try Mammoth Rock Trail, Mountain View via the Free part of Uptown, or Lower Rock Creek Canyon (watch for hikers & DOGS). Check out our full Mountain Bike Report at this link.
Upcoming Snow Season Operations: Mountain crews are working on new snowmaking fan guns in the upper Broadway area. These will help big time for early season openers as we move forward in time.
Just 88 days until the scheduled opener on November 13th. Stay tuned, should be an interesting winter with the strong El Niño in place.
Much love to You All, Snowman out…
What’s Up Mountain Report
Lots to do during August in the Eastern Sierra; it’s like a Tom Sawyer Adventure up here. My favorite picks right now are a mountain bike ride in the park early in the morning, followed the next day by a morning hike in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Afternoons are great on the side of any lake; just watch out for the bears.
For Kids who want some extra fun, try Woolly’s Adventure Park halfway up the road to Main Lodge. The mountain roller coaster is a ton of fun along with all the other things they have to do.
Scenic drives are also very rewarding this time of year; just south of Mammoth, try Upper Rock Creek Canyon Road. There are a bunch of pull-over spots in the Canyon and the Upper Rock Creek hiking trail you access from the Sno Park Parking. Bishop Creek Canyon is also stunning in the Summer with several lakes you can access, along with great fishing on Bishop Creek.
This is the peak if Summer time travel in the Mammoth Lakes and Eastern Sierra region, so plan ahead. In about 2 weeks, California schools go back in session in many SoCal regions. Typically what we see then is a slower mid-week with an uptick in people each weekend.
If you’re planning a trip later this Summer or Fall to ride, make sure to wait to get a room till just before you leave, or if coming midweek, just show up in town and grab a discounted room. Why? You never know what will happen with air quality, and there ain’t no refunds if that becomes an issue.
Beware of Bears: Don’t get lazy and leave food in your car, or the bears will be inspired to rip out your window for a tasty treat. It’s happened to me twice: once I left food in the car, the second time, no food, but the window had a slight crack, and a bear pulled it out. Learn from my mistakes.
Town Shuttle Service: The Mammoth Transit summer system operates from Mid-May through early November and offers a convenient, fun, and friendly alternative to getting around Mammoth Lakes. Passengers ride for free on all fixed routes in town.
Hot Tip: Catch the Lakes Basin Shuttle from the Village; there is also a large bike rack that can hold a dozen bikes all the way up to Horseshoe Lake. Once up there, you can go around the basin and then take the Lakes Basin paved path trail back to town. Here is the link to the Shuttle Service Map
Mammoth Paved Trail System: These amazing paths are located throughout town, including the Town Loop and the Lake Basin Path. You can park at Footloose Sports or Black Tie Rentals, rent a cruiser bike, and take off on the town loop. You can see all the trails you can ride on this map image.
Camping: All campgrounds from Mammoth Lakes down toward Bishop are now open for the Summer. Here is the link to the USFS information page on campgrounds.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: The basin is wide open, and all trails, marinas, stores, and campsites are snow-free for the start of July. Make sure to stop into Pokoknobe Lodge and say hi to the new owners.
Reds Meadow Road and Shuttle Service: Reds Meadow Shuttle service currently runs every Thursday–Sunday. The road is still under construction, so don’t plan on driving into the canyon for day access. For the latest information on the Reds Meadow shuttle, use this link.
Minerat Vista Point: You can drive up to the Vista Point just past Main Lodge for an epic view of the Sierras. This is a great place to have lunch, as there are a bunch of picnic tables and bathrooms. There is also a nice trail for a short hike. Here is the link for more information.
June Lake Loop: Lots to do over at the loop. The June Lake Beach is open, as are all the little shops and places in the main part of town. Fishing has been good along Rush Creek.
Winter Improvements at Mammoth Mountain: Crews are adding more of the snowmaking tower cannons to Upper Broadway. The area I call the missing link; these will really help with all the early opening dates the mountain sets.
Winter 2026-27: Just 102 days until the scheduled start of winter operations. The date is Friday, November 13th, 2026. If you’re looking for a killer preseason ski training video that is FREE, here is a link to my coach’s video on YouTube.
Host a View or Public Roadway Webcam: I’m looking for homes or businesses that would like to host a Mammoth Snowman webcam. We are looking for killer views of the Mammoth Area and the Eastern Sierra.
If you would like to pay it forward and share a view with the community, get in touch with Steve the Snowman today. steve@mammothsnowman.com. I have webcams in stock and ready to go, and a local licensed electrician who can do the install
Online Mammoth Mountain Community
Want a safe spot to talk snow, share tips, or ask questions? Our Private Facebook Group is a friendly gathering place with 21,000+ people who love Mammoth just like you — all built on respect and no-drama conversations.
Mammoth Snowman FAQ
1. When does Mammoth Mountain usually open and close for the season?
The Friday of Veterans Day is always the preset opening day. Mammoth will open earlier if they get 2-3 feet of early-season base snow. Most years, you can ski or ride till Memorial Day, with most seasons going into June and even July. Mammoth has made it into August 3 times. Here is the link to the past opening and closing days.
2. How often do you update snow and weather reports?
We post fresh snow, weather, and mountain condition updates several times a week — daily during storm cycles and peak winter months (November to March).
3. What makes MammothSnowman.com different from the official resort site?
We’re locals sharing real conditions, photos, and reports without the marketing gloss. No fluff — just what’s actually happening on the hill. With that said, we work directly, with permission from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and Alltera.
4. Where can I find your detailed Weather Forecast & Discussions?
Our Mammoth Mountain Weather page provides all the details you need on the weather. No automated AI forecasts, just 40 years of local weather knowledge. Here is the link.
5. Do you cover summer activities like biking and hiking, too?
Yes. When the snow melts, we switch gears with mountain bike trail reports, hiking guides, and summer weather coverage.
6. Who’s behind MammothSnowman.com?
I’m Steve Taylor, a longtime Mammoth local known as “The Snowman,” and I’ve been running this site since the Fall of 2004. Here is my full Bio.
7. How can I support the site and community?
Join as a supporter, grab a shirt, or share our reports. Every bit keeps the cameras rolling and the updates flowing. Here is the link to our Keep the Website Alive page.
Author: Steve Taylor, The Mammoth Snowman. For over 30 years, Snowman has meticulously studied Mammoth Mountain’s weather and snow conditions. Since March 1991, he’s used marked ski poles to measure fresh snowfall across the mountain.
He began sharing his insights in 1990 on the Mammoth BBS system, later moving to RSN Forums, and launching MammothSnowman.com in 2004 with a video and photo blog (pre-YouTube). Read his full bio here.