Mammoth Lakes, California

Highway 395, 17.6 miles north of Tom’s Place and 20.9 miles south of June Lake

Photo Gallery

Services and Accommodations

Restaurants and Eateries:

Public Internet Use Facilities: Access Business & Shipping Center (706) 934-4667; Kava Coffeehouse (760) 872-1010; Looney Bean (760) 934-1345; Mammoth Lakes Library (760) 934-4777; Wild Willy’s Mammoth Arcade (760) 924-1082

Museums and Point of Interest: Devil’s Postpile National Monument (619) 934-2289; Mammoth Museum (760) 934-6918; Mammoth Ski Museum (760) 934-6592

Events and Festivities: April 26: Opening Day for the General Trout Season); August 11: Sierra Drifters/Crowley Lake Stillwater Classic fishing derby (760-935-4301) November 15: General Trout Season Closes

Summer Recreation: Biking, Birding, Camping, Fishing, Golfing, Hang Gliding, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountaineering, Photography, Rock Climbing

Winter Recreation: Skiing

Photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain

Sporting Goods Stores:

Fly Shops:

Nearby Fishing:  Home: Mammoth Lakes: Fishing   Fishing Tips (Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Crowley Lake, Crystal Lake, Hot Creek, Lake George, Lake Mary, Laurel Lakes, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek Campground, McLeod Lake, Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, Minaret Falls Campground, New Shady Rest Campground, Starkweather and Sotcher Lake, Sherwin Creek Campground, Red's Meadow Campground, Twin Lakes Campground, Upper Soda Springs Campground)

Photo by H. Blackburn.  Courtesy of Mammoth Mountain

Nearby Camping: Home: Mammoth Lakes: Mammoth Area Camping (Agnew Meadows Campground, Agnew Meadows Horse Camp, Cold Water Campground, Convict Lake Campground, Crowley Lake Campground, Devils Postpile Campground, Lake George Campground, Lake Mary Campground, Pine City Campground, Pumice Flat Campground,

Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Links: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center and Ranger Station, Main Street on Highway 203, (760) 924-5500, Open daily 9 am to 5pm. www.fs.fed/r5/inyo/vc/mammoth.html)  //  Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau // Mammothweb.

Photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain

Community Parks:

Tours and Side-Trips: Crowley Lake, Devils Postpile National Monument (Red's Meadow and Rainbow Falls), Hot Creek Geological Site, Hot Creek State Fish Hatchery, Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth-Mono Geological Tour, Mammoth Mines, Minaret Vista, Obsidian Dome, Whitmore Hot Springs

Weather     Local Weather Forcast 

RV Related:

Recreational Contacts:

Agnew Meadows Pack Train (760) 934-2345

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit 888-475-8747

McGee Creek Pack Station offers spot pack trips, dunnage trips, all inclusive trips and day rides. (760) 935-4324 (summer); (760) 878-2207 (winter).

Red’ Meadow Pack Station offers spot pack trips, dunnage trips, all inclusive trips and day rides. (760) 934-3445

Government Contacts:

            Bureau of Land Management (Bishop Office) 787 Main Street, Suite P, Bishop, CA 93514

            Department of Fish and Game: Season dates, licenses, restrictions, fish stocking

            Inyo National Forest: books, maps and wilderness passes and permits: Mt. Whitney Ranger Station (760) 873-2500; White Mountain Ranger Station (760) 873-2500; Mammoth Ranger Station (760) 924-5500  www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo

To provide a correction or offer a suggestion, email David Archer.

Mammoth Lakes Expansion Notes in Alphabetical Order

Crowley Lake: (See Mammoth Area Fishing)  Named after Father Crowley for his tireless efforts to promote tourism in the Owens Valley after Los Angeles drained the area of water, Crowley Lake is actually a 5,000 acre reservoir, which filled Long Valley from the Owens River and the many smaller creeks in the area.  Completed in 1941, the lake supplies water for the domestic consumption of Los Angeles.  The lake is administered by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.  Lake Crowley is perhaps the most prolific trout nursery and resource in the region for fast growing trout, along with Sacramento perch.  Anglers from southern California converge on the lake opening day of trout season in staggering numbers so large that I hesitate in reporting these published figures. Suffice to say close to ten thousands anglers line the shoreline in years experiencing a mild winter.  Upwards of over three hundred boats have been counted opening day.  Some years the lake thaws early, which produces larger trout.  Some years the lake will not be thawed so call ahead.

Devils Postpile National Monument; Red’s Meadow and Rainbow Falls

I have combined these “must see” side trips because the entrance road has driving restrictions.  (See driving restrictions below) 

The area of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River will delight visitors with spectacular lakes and streams.  Within the valley, lush meadows teem with wildlife and floral displays rival any other scenic spot in the Sierras.  Add shimmering water spilling over a basalt cliff at Rainbow Falls, nearby trails that lead day hikers and back packers into the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness, and it is no wonder that over 100,000 visitors a year enter this Sierra shrine.  Originally encompassed in Yosemite National Park, mining and logging lobbyists successfully pressured Congress in removing 500 square miles from the recently established park.  The Devils Postpile was suddenly expelled from the protection of park status.  When news spread about the proposal in 1910 to detonate the spiraling vertical basalt columns, and use the rubble for a rock impoundment downstream, the environmental community was galvanized into action.  The Devil’s Postpile, by presidential proclamation from President Taft, earned a protective status when it was declared a national monument in 1911. Reaching the Devils Postpile from the visitor center is made along a quarter-mile trail that wind along the river and through stands of lodge-pole pines and fir to the base of the cliff.  “Not only does the Monument preserve and protect the fascinating formations of the Postpile, but it serves as a portal to the sublime High Sierra backcountry….The Devil Postpile is one of the finest examples of columnar basalt in the world.  Approximately 55% of the formation’s columns are six-sided.” (www.nps.gov/depo/)

Rainbow Falls is approximately two miles downstream from the Devils Postpile National Monument, and it too is reached by trail.  Tumbling a 101 feet over a sheer wall of rugged basalt, the mist creates prismatic rainbow displays when the sun climbs above the mountain tops.  It is a wonderful place to relax, take photographs and enjoy a picnic lunch.  A fun way to get to Rainbow Falls is to ride a mule-drawn wagon from Red’s Meadow.

Road Restriction:

Mandatory travel restrictions are enforced for the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River and the Devils Postpile National Monument area.  Only campers are allowed to drive on the road from 7:00 A.M to 7:30 P.M.  A shuttle bus operates repeatedly throughout the day from the Mammoth Mountain Ski area for visitors during these restricted travel times. “All visitors accessing the recreational opportunities and activities in the Reds Meadow Valley are charged a per-person transportation fee. Fees are collected during the entire open season and all hours of the day. Fees are used to operate the shuttle system. If visitors arrive when the station is closed, their fee will be collected upon their exit from the valley. Passes are available at the Shuttle Terminal at Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge Gondola Building and also at Minaret Vista Station for those few exceptions that are not required to ride the bus.

The shuttle service to Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile began in 1979. The shuttle was determined necessary to reduce the impact on the environment from vehicle traffic. The narrow road into the Reds Meadow area serves as the only access to the San Joaquin River Valley , the Devils Postpile National Monument , Rainbow Falls and 5 trailheads leading into the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness Areas, including the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail. The road also allows access to 186 campsites (6 campgrounds), 4 nature trails, and 2 day use lakes, Reds Meadow Pack Station and Lodge, and Agnew Meadows Pack Station. Vehicle use and Exceptions

Excessive vehicle use is the reason for a mandatory shuttle bus. However, some exceptions are recognized. Following is a list of most exceptions:

• Vehicles entering the valley before 7:00 am , or after 7:30 pm
• Vehicles carrying passengers with a disabled placard (once in the valley visitors must hike to most sites)
• Vehicles towing horse trailers or other livestock
• Campers camping in the Reds Meadow area
• Overnight Resort Guests
• Administrative vehicles
• Vehicles carrying car top boats, canoes, kayaks for use in valley

Exceptions are still charged the per person transportation fee.”

 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/redsmeadow.shtml

Hot Creek Geologic Site

In the annals of trout fishing lore, Hot Creek is known far and wide.  Downstream from the Hot Creek State Fish Hatchery, visitors leave their fly rods behind and witness hot gas vents, boiling water, sky-blue hot springs and rising steam, which rises to the earth’s surface from molten lava miles below.  Be prepared for the sulfurous smell of rotten eggs as steam escapes from fumaroles along the creek.  Visitors are cautioned to stay on designated trails as the ground is unstable.  The short trail offers an overlook and an observation bridge.  To reach the hot springs from Highway 395, turn east at the airport exit and follow the signs on Fish Hatchery Road, which is three miles south of Mammoth Junction.  Drive 2.5 miles on a gravel road to the parking area.

Hot Creek State Fish Hatchery raises a couple of million trout annually to be stocked locally.  Considered to be one of the largest hatcheries in the state, the Hot Creek Hatchery also produces over 20 million trout eggs for hatcheries throughout the state.

Inyo Craters

The Inyo Craters are older than the Mono Craters.  Looking like a funnel depression stuck in a mountain, the Inyo Craters are examples of super-heated steam explosions when ground water comes in contact with rising magma.  Referred to as phreatic eruptions, the magma never reaches the surface.  Radio carbon dating of wood debris sets the time of activity at over 600 years ago.  The two Inyo craters pits are 600 feet in diameter and hold water at the bottom of the funnel.  The craters may be reached by trail through a Jeffrey pine forest which ends at a picnic site.  To reach the trail from Mammoth Lakes, take the Mammoth Scenic Loop Road.  Look for the signed entrance to Inyo Craters and continue one mile to the parking area.

Mammoth Lakes (See Camping and Fishing Section)

Mammoth-Mono Geological Tour (The Mammoth Ranger District Headquarters offers a pamphlet entitled, “Craters – Cones- Coulees” for a self-guided tour of 10 geological sites.)  You are mistaken if you believe that visiting the area’s caldera, an area approximately 10 by 20 miles, will be a stroll down memory lane when the last eruption occurred 100,000 years ago.  The Mono-Long Valley Caldera is alive and well.  So, what are the odds of an eruption during your planned visit.  Scientists on staff at the U.S Geological Survey predict that the probability of any activity is about 1%.  In other words, stick around for another 100,000 years for the fireworks.  The most recent eruptions created the hills surrounding Mammoth Lakes, a mere 100,000 years ago.  Keep in mind, however, that the entire Mammoth and Mono Basin sees isolated pockets of activity outside the Long Valley Area.  As recent as 250 years ago, an eruption on Paoha Island in Mono Lake shook the area.

The study of geology is not the study of ancient history.  It is the study of Mother Earth in her slow, meticulous transformation of our planet.  Should an unthinkable and unpredictable, less than catastrophic, eruption take place during your visit and  in close proximity to where you stand, take heart from the fact that lava flows “rarely move faster than a brisk walk.” It will be the pyroclastic blast of hot ash venting at speeds “greater than 100 miles an hour” that will get you!  I exaggerate, of course.  Scientists predict that the next eruption will more than likely be small, and it could be limited to that of an explosive steam kettle, with the molten magma activity safely under the ground as it vaporizes underground water in its struggle to reach the surface.  When sub-surface gas is pushed up just beneath the earth’s crust, and it is touched off by a finger-like vein of molten rock, “stuff” happens.  It is precisely this rising finger of hot molten rock that keeps the USGS busy monitoring the area.  In 1980-1982 scientists noticed a slight uplift of the ground surface in the Long Valley Caldera, as the magma and a finger-like projection pushed upwards along the south wall of the caldera.

The self-guided tour of the geological wonders around the Mammoth area, including a trip to the Hot Creek Geological Site, is an important part in understanding the region.  For informative articles on “Long Valley Caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters,” and “Future Eruptions in California’s Long Valley Area – What is Likely?”, visit USGS on-line.

Mammoth Mines

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area:  Encompassing 3,500 acres, 150 trails, 29 ski lifts and three full service slope-side lodges, Mammoth Mountain is the quintessential ski resort in the eastern Sierra Mountains.

Minaret Vista

Located a short distance west of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort on Minaret Road, the Minaret Vista at the top of the pass affords an impressive view of the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, the Ritter Mountain Range and the jagged Minarets across the valley floor.  A self-guided tour provides signed information on the geology and plant life in the area from the picnic area and Deadman Pass Trailhead.

Obsidian Dome

Obsidian, prized by the Indians for making spearheads and arrowheads, is a black, glass-like creation from lava that cooled rapidly after a surface eruption.  Thousands of years after the caldera was formed, domes were created from magma pressure far below.  The resulting ground swell forms a resurgent dome.  Think of the Obsidian Dome as a magma after-thought or burp.  If you have visited Mammoth Hot Springs Geothermal area, you can imagine what that burp smelled like!

Whitmore Hot Springs

Operated by Mammoth Lakes, the pool is regulated at 80-degrees from a nearby hot spring.  Open to the public, Whitmore Hot Springs pool is located one mile of Highway 395 on Benton Crossing Road, just before the Mammoth Airport.

Companion Web Sites:

Glacier to Yellowstone (A complete guide to camping and fishing in Montana from Glacier to Yellowstone)

Fishing Tips 101 (Offering a "Mastering the Basics" series for freshwater fishing)

Bass and Trout Fishing Digest (Dave's hodge-podge of fishing adventures in Northern California and Oregon)