30+ Things to Do from Mammoth Lakes to June Lake to Bishop, California

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area: In My Opinion, Skiing Midweek at Mammoth Mountain is best in the Eastern Sierra. Nothing beats the miles of groomers and the off-piste wind buff that rules the Mountain from November through March.

The spring snow season runs from April to June, with many seasons seeing the closing day on July 4th. The average season is November into June.

During the Winter Months, don’t miss our weekly local snow conditions reports, with fresh photos and video clips; here is the link to that page.

Mammoth Mountain Bike Park: The Bike Park has 85 Miles of Downhill, Cross-Country, and Enduro Terrain that will keep you entertained for days.

There are also some great climbing trails to ride and a Discovery Park for those just starting out. Mammoth Mountain also allows class 1 peddle-assist bikes so you don’t get hammered from the high elevation and lack of oxygen you might be used to.

The average season runs from Memorial Day on the lower Mountain, with full operations from July into mid-September. Use this link for more information.

Scenic Gondola Rides: Riding to the top of Mammoth Mountain is a fantastic experience. The views are breathtaking and beyond compare once as you ride to the top of the Mountain.

At the top station, you will have a 360-degree view of the Eastern Sierra and the Sierra Nevada. You will also get a chance to get a picture of the famous Mammoth Mountain Sign at 11,053 feet.

There is also an interpretative center with more information about the Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Mountain, and the mountain peaks from this high elevation. Click here to learn more and view a video preview of the ride up to the top of Mammoth Moutain.

Woolly’s Adventure Park: Located on Highway 203, about two miles from the Village, this adventure area is the home of Family Fun. During the winter, there is snow play and a tube park.

During the Summer, they plan to host all the fun ropes and adventures that have been up at Main Lodge for years. Last Summer, they installed a mountain roller coaster, so there’s to do here while the park gets built.

Mammoth Earthquake Fault: It is a 2-mile drive up Highway 203 from the Village at Mammoth. The fault area is a great little side adventure to see an actual fault line up close. During significant snowfall years, snow will fall on the fault into September. Here is the link to more information.

Minerate Vista Overlook and Picnic Area: 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 for more information.

Mammoth Lakes Paved Trail System: One of the best improvements ever made in Mammoth Lakes is these fantastic paved Trails. My Family and I have used them almost daily for years. These trails offer great views and some forested sections.

Try the Mammoth Lakes Basin Path that starts at the Mammoth Brewing Company in town and finishes at Horseshoe Lake. In the Summer, a shuttle 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.

Shady Rest Park: During the Spring, Summer, and Fall, this is the place to take the kids for typical playtime. There are swings and playground equipment, along with tables. Want to shoot some hoops? Yep, they’ve got you covered here.

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

Snow Creek Meadow: The entrance to this walk-only Meadow is just off Old Mammoth Road on Minaret Road. 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. Once Fall hits, the colors are amazing as you stroll through the Meadow. Link to more information

The Mammoth Lakes Basin: This area is one of the premier recreation spots near Mammoth Lakes, especially in Summer. It offers camping, boating, hiking, fishing, walking, and biking. There are also three marines, two restaurants, and 8 miles of paved trail for those who don’t want to hike in the dirt.

During the winter, the Main Road is closed and groomed as the basin turns into the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Area. However, you still have a groomed access path to snowshoe up during these months.

Crystal Lake Hike: This is one of our favorite family hikes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. We like to hike up this trail early and then have lunch on the shoreline or rock cliffs.

The views here are amazing, and the lake is a perfect high-country hangout. During the peak of the Summer heat, this is one of the spots where the Family would hike and go for a swim. Here is a link to learn more about the Crytal Lake Hike.

Bishop Creek Canyon: Hiking, Fishing, Rock Climbing, OHV 4 x 4, Mountain Biking, SUP and Boating

Bishop Golf Course: There are 18 Holes of pure fun with fabulous views of the Eastern Side of the Sierra. They even have great food to fill your belly. The course is open year-round and only closes when Bishop gets snowed, which is rare nowadays.

Laws Rail Road Museum: I recommend everyone visiting 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. Click here for more information.

Mill Pond Park & Disc Golf: This is a great place to hang out just at the bottom of the Sherwin Grade. There is an entire 18-hole disc golf course to keep you busy for hours. Have Kids? The park has a playground for energy output. Click here for more information.

Bishop City Park: Over the years, we have spent many hours at Bishop City Park enjoying the warmer climate and being out of the snow. The park 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. Click here for more information.

Winter Time Fun in Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Mountain Opening Weekend: The event is scheduled each season on the Friday before Veterans Day. It is a fun-packed weekend with minimal terrain open unless early snowfall exists. The opening weekend can be moved up if the ski area gets an early-season dump.

Night of Lights: Held the 3rd Saturday of December each year at Canyon Lodge, this is the 4th of July for Christmas, with ground and sky Fireworks, a skier torchlight parade, and more. 

I recommend everyone put this on their bucket list. I have been 15+ times, and it’s always a ton of fun with lots of fireworks and happy holiday people. For those with young children, bring car mats for them to stand on so their feet won’t get so cold. 

Snow Shoeing: Winter Time offers endless snow you can snowshoe through. Try a shoe up to Minerat Vista or a stroll through the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Both those are groomed routes you can take, or if you’re in extra good shape, you can try snow showing through deep powder, making your path.

Cross-Country Skiing: Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern High Sierra have incredible Cross-Country skiing options. Your choices and where to go will be determined by the weather, snowpack depth, and the month of winter you come to Mammoth Lakes.

The best cross-country skiing will always be in the Mammoth Lakes Basin at the Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center. As we get into winter, the snow levels and colder air move into the lower elevations, giving you many options for Cross-Country skiing beside the Tamarack Resort in the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

Click here to learn more and view a video preview of the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center.

Snowmobiling is a blast in the Mammoth area. However, the fun is dictated by how much snow we have. During years of average and above snowfall, the amount of riding you will find is fantastic.

If you’re new to the sport, you should take a two-hour trip with Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures in the Main Lodge area. Click here to learn more and view a video preview of a ride with Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures.

Ice Skating: There are several options for ice skating in the Eastern Sierra. The Town of Mammoth Lakes has a new Ice Rink at the end of the Old Mammoth Road commercial section at Mammoth Creek Park. The ice rink is a multi-use facility that offers activities year-round for families or individuals. Here is a link to the Mammoth Lakes Ice Rink website.

During drier winters, many bodies of water are also skateable in the backcountry and at lower locations in the Eastern Sierra. A Google search will help you discover some hidden gems you can skate.

Sledding: The Snowman loves Sledding, and snow plays with the Family in Mammoth Lakes. On storm days when the hill is mainly shut down, Sledding can keep you and your kids occupied for hours. Our Family has come to love the sport of Sledding so much that we design and build our courses in our yard.

Almost nothing beats a couple hours of Sledding with the Family on the hills around your yard, the town, or the Eastern Sierra. Grab the kids, helmets, and a variety of sleds, and get ready for some major fun. Click here to learn more.

Winter Hiking / Walking: Depending on the snow levels, you will find some fun hiking/walking options during the winter months. First, during the drier snow seasons, the Mammoth Lakes town trail system is an excellent option for a walk. The paved trails that start by the Blue Park off of Old Mammoth Road are the best places to venture as they’re the most likely paths to be free of snow and ice.

The second option is the Lower Rock Creek Trail, about 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, just past Toms’s place if you’re heading south on Highway 395. This trail holds ice and snow, so be prepared even if the terrain is snow-free.

Winter Fishing: The Owens River and the Hot Creek area are open during winter. Yes, it’s cold, and your hands will freeze, so be prepared. Fishing the Owens River out of Bishop is my call for winter fishing. Here are some links to read and learn where to fish in the Wintertime. Link 1 is to a Western Outdoor News post, and link 2 takes you to the Visit Bishop Winter Fishing Page.

Winter Mountain Biking: For the hearty soul who knows how to layer up for cold biking, there are a ton of trails to ride during the winter months, depending on the snow line’s elevation.

You can ride many forest service roads when the snow line is above 7500 feet near Mammoth. You will find many unmapped single-track trails off these service roads to explore.

Rock Creek Canyon is amazing for downhill action. Two cars can shuttle you back up from the bottom. During the winter, you can ride back up the trail or use the road if you can’t shuttle. Watch for ice on the road, as it’s in the shade most of the winter months.

The Bishop area also has many trails you can ride during winter, and the temperatures are more favorable than in the high country. Check out my new Mountain Bike website, which has more information on where to ride; here is the link.

Rock Creek Canyon Snow Park: Three miles up from Toms Place, there is parking for access to the snow play area in Rock Creek Canyon. Here is the USFS Information Page for the snow park.

Winter in Spring Pond Skim: This event is in mid-April at Canyon Lodge most seasons. Fifty people in costume sign up to compete for the honor of being the winner of this crazy event. I have no idea what they win. 

*** I hope you enjoy our list of things to do in the area. It’s a bucket list for travel to Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra. 

Steve Taylor – the Mammoth Snowman