Recreation Report - What to Do - What's Open

June 14th, 2022 @ 11:52 AM – Summer time is in full force now with most of the snow now gone. The last closed road will open on Friday and that’s is Reds Meadow Road. All the campgrounds in that area will also open up starting on Friday. Make sure to have a reservation and be ready for a bit of wait as it’s opening day.

Also opening on Friday will be the Mammoth Mountain Gondola for Summer operations. Scenic Rides will be on once again as will access to the mid-mountain trails for Mountain Bikers in the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. 

For now, the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is open with the Bike Park Shuttle taking you to just above the chair 4 area. Lot’s of downhill action from there or try a cross-country loop out on Paper Route & Manzanita.

The Mammoth Lakes Basin is wide open with all the campgrounds, marinas, and hiking trails open. You will also find the Lake Basin Paved Path cleaned up and opened to Horseshoe Lake.

FYI: The USFS has put Fire Restrictions in place as of Monday, June 6th, so no campfires or BBQs outside of the hosted campgrounds even if you have a FIRE PERMIT. If you do have a fire expect to get ticketed by the Forest Service Patrol Units.

This Summer you can expect some of the highest fire danger we have seen yet, at some point we might even see a forest shut down is what we have been told by the Forest Service. So please be extra careful.

6-10-22 FIshing on Bishop Creek - Photo by Snowman

Roads & Campgrounds Open / Closed

Mono Lake Ranger District

Roads OPEN:

  • Saddlebag Road
  • Tioga Pass (120 West). Reservation required. Visit the park’s website for more information.
  • Ebbetts Pass (HWY 4), Sonora Pass (HWY 108), Monitor Pass, Lundy Lake Rd, HWY 120 E (Benton), HWY 158 June Lake Loop, Bodie Road (SR 270), HWY 120 W 11 miles west of Hwy 395

Roads CLOSED: None

Campgrounds OPEN:

Upper and Lower Deadman (opens Friday June 10), Tioga Lake, Junction, Ellery Lake, Moraine, Aspen, Big Springs, Hartley Springs, Reversed Creek, Lundy Canyon (County), Silver Lake, Gull Lake, Oh! Ridge, June Lake, Aerie Crag, Glass Creek, Lower Lee Vining

Campgrounds CLOSED:

Big Bend, Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Obsidian Flat Group.

Note: several of these campgrounds have a targeted opening date of June 17 or the following week. Crews are working on maintenance issues and removing hazard trees.

Visitor Centers:

  • Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center: please call ahead to find out if passes and permit sales are possible
    • Operating hours: Thursday-Sunday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads OPEN:

  • HWY 203 is open until Minaret Vista Entrance Station (closed).
    • Minaret Vista Lookout is also open.
  • Mammoth Scenic Loop
  • Old Mammoth Road to Lakes Basin Road
  • Lakes Basin Road

Roads CLOSED:

Red’s Meadow Road from Minaret Vista Entrance Station (Targeted opening date: June 17)

Campgrounds OPEN:
Lake Mary, Lake George, Coldwater, Twin Lakes, Old Shady Rest, Pine Glen Group, Sherwin Creek, New Shady Rest, Mammoth Mtn. RV Park (private), Crowley (BLM)

Campgrounds CLOSED:
Pine City, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Pumice Flat Group.
Target opening date of June 17 (date subject to change):
Minaret Falls, Upper Soda Springs, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Family, Pumice Flat Family.

Visitor Centers:

  • Devils Postpile Ranger Station (NPS): closed for the season.
  • Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center:
    • Hours: every day from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

*** Please Note: Laurel Mountain Trail (28E201) south of Sherwin Creek Road near Mammoth Lakes has severe wash outs. Please refrain from driving on the trail.***

White Mountain Ranger District

Roads OPEN:

Rock Creek, Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., Sabrina Rd., South Lake Rd., Glacier Rd. (Big Pine Creek), McGee Creek Rd., Pine Creek, Buttermilk Rd., White Mountain Rd. (not maintained in winter, travel at own risk), Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon to upper lot.

Roads CLOSED: none

Campgrounds OPEN:
Table Mountain Group, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Rock Creek, Rock Creek Group, Upper Pine Grove, Pine Grove, East Fork, Palisade Group, North Lake (no water), Sabrina (no water), Willow, Bishop Park Group, Mountain Glen, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group, Intake 2 (Upper area has no water), Big Meadow, Iris Meadow, Aspen Group, Holiday, McGee Creek, Tuff, French Camp, Convict Lake, Big Pine Creek, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey, Forks, Bishop Park, Upper Sage Flat, Lower Sage Flat, Pleasant Valley (County), Horton (BLM), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM, no water), Grandview (winter ops, no services, no fees), Bitterbrush, Baker Creek (County), Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County), Goodale (BLM, no water), Cedar Flat Group.

Campgrounds CLOSED: none

Visitor Centers:

  • Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center:
    • Hours: Thursday through Sunday 10am – 4:45 pm
  • White Mountain Public Lands Information Center: opened on May 24
    • Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sun + Mon) Hours: 8:30 – 4:30 (closed for lunch 12 -1pm)

       

Mt Whitney Ranger District

Roads OPEN: Onion Valley Rd., Horseshoe Meadow, Whitney Portal Rd., Foothill Road, Division Creek

Road CLOSED: none

Campgrounds OPEN: Kennedy Meadows (no services), Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian, Onion Valley, Whitney Portal, Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground, Whitney Portal Group, Lower Grays Meadow (no potable water), Upper Grays Meadow (no potable water), Independence Creek (county), Tuttle Creek, Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County), Lone Pine

Campgrounds CLOSED: none

Visitor Centers:

Eastern Sierra Visitor Center: open with limited services

What To Do Now Ideas

June 15th, 2022 Update

What you see below are some of the fun things that our Family has been doing over the last 30 years of living in the Eastern Sierra.

Our goal here is to help you have a great adventure the next time your up in the Eastern Sierra. Snowman…

East Side Mountain Biking: From the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park to the Inyo National Forest to Ride on BLM land there is something for everyone to ride.

To learn more about where to ride right now check out the East Side Mountain Bike Report Page.

Scenic Gondola Rides: “Open For Summer Starting On June 17th” Taking a ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain is an amazing experience. The views are breathtaking as you ride up and beyond compared to when you’re standing at the top.

Once you reach the top station you will have a 360 degrees view of the Eastern Sierra and the Sierra Nevada Range. Here is the link to learn more and get your ticket for your ride up.

Mammoth Earthquake Fault: A 2-mile drive up highway 203 from the Village at Mammoth. This is a great little side adventure to see a deep fault line up close. During big snowfall years, there will be snow in the fault into September. Here is the link to more information.

Minaret Vista: As a local, I drive up here weekly during the Summer and Fall months, the view is gorgeous and you get a great view over to the west side of the Sierra. The Vista is 2 miles past the Main Lodge at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Here is the link to more information.

Fishing: There is so much to fish in this region you can spend several years and still not cover it all. We find the best fishing is out on Crowley Lake fly fishing with midges.

You can learn more about some of our favorite areas to fish at this link.

Mammoth Lakes Paved Trail System: One of the best improvements ever done in Mammoth Lakes is these fantastic paved Trails. My family and I have used them almost daily for years. You will find great views and some forested sections on these trails.

Try the Mammoth Lakes Basin Path that starts at the Mammoth Brewing Company in town and finishes at Horseshoe Lake. In the Summer months, there is a shuttle that will take you to the top of this path and then you can walk or ride your bike the 4 miles back to town. Link to more information

Snowcreek Meadow: Just off of Old Mammoth Road on Minaret Road is the entrance to this walk-only Meadow. You will find this is a great chance to walk through a wetland area. During the late spring into the Summer months, you will find tons of wildflowers in this area. Do watch your step this is a wetland area so there is mud at times along the trails. Link to more information

Hiking: All trails are now open up into the backcountry. Use the USFS Interactive Map here to find trails in the Inyo Forest.

Rock Creek Canyon: This is a four-season wonderland with plenty of Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Mountain Biking, and Boating during the Summer. You will some amazing photos from Upper Rock Creek Canyon at this link.

June Lake Loop if you’re coming up to the Eastern Sierra, make sure you plan a day on the June Lake Loop. We like to start our day with a morning on June Lake Beach. During the am hours winds are calm and there are not a lot of people around until around noon.

At noon you can head down the loop and fish Rush Creek. There are lots of places to pull off the road so you can access and fish the creek.  After some time fishing if you head north on the loop you will get some great views of the Canyon and eventually Grant Lake. You can learn more about the loop at this link.

Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center: This is a must-see on any Summer trip up to the Eastern Sierra. There is a museum along with some great views of Mono Lake. Here is the link to learn more.

Shady Rest Disc Golf Course: A full 18-hole disc golf course right in a Jeffery Pine Forest next to the Shady Rest Campground and Park. This is a great course and takes about 2 – 1/2 hours to play the entire course out. It does get hot mid-day during the summer so bring a hat, and lots of water.

Here is the link to get more information.

Mill Pond Disc Golf & Picnic Area: Has a great disk golf course and picnic area. There is also a nice Browns Town Camp Ground located on the property. Mill Pond is located about 4 miles from the bottom of the Sherwin Grade.

Here is the link to more information on the Mill Pond Recreation area.

Laws Rail Road Museum: I recommend everyone who comes up to the Eastern Sierra to experience this unique museum setting. You’ll find 11 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits including the original depot and steam locomotive the Slim Princess. Experience what life was like over 100 years ago in the Owens Valley. Here is the link to the Laws Rail Road Museum

Bishop City Park: Over the years we have spent many hours down at Bishop City Park enjoying the warmer climate and being out of the snow. This is a great place to have lunch and let the kids out to play without all the snow in Mammoth Lakes.

You will see many Mammoth locals down here during the winter months trying to get a taste of winter below the snowline. Here is the link to Bishop City Park Page.

Fish Hatchery: You will find the Hot Creek Hatchery on the way to Hot Creek on Airport road about 5 mins south of Mammoth once you get on 395. Link to more information.

Hayden Cabin: Great photos and artifacts that tell the story of Mammoth. Here is the link to learn more.

Mammoth Consolidated Mine: Located just above the cold water campground this is an old mining camp or what’s left of it. Take 30 minutes and check it out when you’re in the Lake Basin. Link to more information.
 
Mammoth Creek - 5-23-2022
Mammoth Creek by Twin Lakes - May 2022