Mammoth Mountain
Snowman Report
Featuring Daily Snow, Weather, Travel, FAQ, Community & Adventure
Monday, August 3rd, 2026 @ 10 AM – Good morning, the dog days of summer are in full swing now with warm days and nights across the eastern Sierra. The resort levels at Main Lodge and the Mammoth Lakes basin are perfect right now to escape the heat of the lowlands.
The biking, hiking, and summer adventures in the area are all open and in full swing. A walk around Lake Mary is not only gorgeous but a great way to take in the sights and sounds of Summer.
Travel / Road Update: All Roads are open, except Reds Meadow Road remains under construction in 2026. Here is the link to the current highway webcams.
Video Action: Today’s video is on Skid Marks and is from Anthony Bright, one of the park regulars who posts videos on YouTube.
Mammoth Weather Forecast: Clear skies are expected this week with temps in the 80s in Mammoth Lakes, with upper 70s up on the hill and in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Crowley and Toms Place will be in the upper 80s, with overnight lows in the mid- to upper 50s in the high country by sunrise.
Winds will be SW at 5-10 mph, with gusts to 20 mph possible during the afternoons. Next chance for isolated T Storms would be late in the week into next weekend.
Get my full Mammoth Weather Forecast and the Extended Discussion along with the El Niño Outlook for next Fall and Winter at our Mammoth Weather page here.
Mountain Biking Mammoth Conditions Report: The mountain bike park is about 100% open sans a couple connector trails that are closed for ski area snowmaking work.
Conditions in the park are amazing, especially now that everything is open. Try Skid Marks off the Top; make sure to link into Juniper for a long downhill run all the way to Little Eagle. A quick 5-min ride will get you back to the village bike park shuttle pickup.
All the Cross Country Trails are open along with the Discovery Park for beginners and families. Discovery Trail is a ton of fun for just about everyone; I know I love it. Also to note this summer, instead of Chair 2, the mountain is running Chair 4 Fridays – Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM for downhill laps.
It’s prime time in the park right now; I would come up to ride sooner rather than later.
Check out our full Mountain Bike Report at this link.
Much love to You All, Snowman
Photos from a Mammoth Summer
This is the view from the Lincoln Express Mountain Bike Trail as it crosses over the Viva Ski run. Below you can see Canyon Lodge with Chair 16 to your left and Chair 22 to your right. That’s the Follow Me Trail just below. Photo from the Snowman
Always love this view from the Gondola Car riding up to McCoy Station. Nothing like an early Summer morning in the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. Photo from Snowman
The Seven Bridges Trail is a fun side trail off of Break Through. This one ends up going right through the lower part of Dry Creek Canyon. During good snow years, the water will run under those bridges for much of the Summer. Photo from the Snowman
Lupine at 10,500 feet on the back side of Mammoth Mountain. Found this field of flowers right smack in the middle of the Off the Top Mountain Bike Trail. Lupinus polyphyllus is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family that is native to a large part of western North America. In California, it is found primarily in the Sierras and other northern mountains.
The original Mammoth Mountain sign still sits smack dab at the top at 11,053 Feet. You will find this sign just behind the top station. To reach the sign, head to the back door and deck at the interpretive center once you reach the summit.
The Outpost at Chairs 13 and 14 with Reds Lake behind and the Minarets, Banner, and Ritter in the background. The Mountain Bike Trail is the very lower section of Off the Top.
What’s Up Locals 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.