Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
Situated in Eastern California near the world famous Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Mountain really is, well, Mammoth! A mammoth vertical drop, huge snowfall and the sheer size of the resort all add up to make this one of the best (and biggest!) ski resorts in California and indeed the US.
Founded by Dave McCoy back in the 40’s and 50’s, Mammoth has its share of quirks. For example, employees are forbidden to wear beards or moustaches. Now owned by Intrawest, these quirks have remained, but you can also be assured of a top class lift system and a modern, well-serviced resort.
Mammoth Mtn Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The terrain at Mammoth is huge with over 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) of skiing and snowboarding, making it one of the largest ski resorts in California. There is an extensive system of 28 lifts to whisk you up the mountain that includes 9 high speed quads, 2 high speed six-packs, and 3 high speed gondolas.
Mammoth has a great mix of terrain; novices are catered for with 25% of trails, whilst intermediates have 40% of the terrain. Towards the top of the mountain the runs tend to get steeper, and advanced and expert skiers are rewarded with steep chutes, mogul runs, bowls and glades. The mountain statistics are 20% advanced and 15% expert (double blacks).
With 9 parks and 3 pipes (including one of only a handful of “SuperDuper” 22 ft high and 550ft long pipes in the world), Mammoth is internationally renowned for its terrain parks. Mammoth is a haven for international ski and snowboard pros who come here to train for the X games and Olympics, but there’s also plenty of scope for progression for beginners and intermediates with a mini pipe, mini jumps, and terrain parks for all levels.
Mammoth is considered by many as one of the best ski areas in California and it is extremely popular with skiers and snowboarders from LA, Southern California and Nevada, in part because it’s closer than the Lake Tahoe resorts. As such, Mammoth can get extremely busy on weekends and holidays.
Mammoth Mountain Snow
Mammoth Mountain receives over 400 inches (more than 10 metres!) of California snow every season. Coupled with this massive snowfall, Mammoth also receives a whopping 300+ days of sunshine a year, so if it’s not dumping, you’ll no doubt be enjoying the beautiful California sun. Mammoth also has plenty of snowmaking across 46 trails in case the storms do not roll in while you’re there.
Whilst the quality of the snow is not as dry as Rockies powder, Mammoth snow tends to be less wet than that found at the Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Mammoth is located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which affords some protection from the wet snow storms that roll in from the west coast.
Mammoth is the highest of the
California ski resorts with a top elevation of 11,053 ft (3,368m), and base elevation is still a very high 7,953 ft (2,424m), so this is also a plus for the snow quality. The high elevation also allows for fantastic sweeping views for 100s of miles across the Eastern Sierras.
Where is Mammoth Mountain?
Mammoth ski resort sits on the north side of Mammoth Mountain which looms above the town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County. Mammoth is located in Eastern California, 313 miles (about 500km) north of Los Angeles, and 329 miles west of San Francisco. The drive from LA or San Francisco takes about 5 hours (depending on weather and traffic). Mammoth is also easily accessible from Nevada and Las Vegas.
The area is home to Yosemite National Park and some of the most beautiful scenery in the state, and the multitude of Lake Tahoe ski resorts are an easy 165 mile drive north up US395.
Mammoth Yosemite Airport is the closest airport, only 7.8 miles (12.5km) from the town of Mammoth Lakes. Connecting flights are available from a number of US airports including LAX and San Francisco International airport. Getting to town from the local airport is a piece of cake with the complimentary free shuttles.
Mammoth is well serviced with free public transport to get around town. The main village houses most of the shopping and nightlife, and there is a village gondola to connect things to the slopes at Canyon Lodge.
Mammoth Mountain Lodging
Overnight guests usually stay in the adjacent town of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth has a wide variety of accommodation options from budget to high-end fully serviced hotels and resorts, and there are a lot of condos and houses on offer if you’re part of a bigger group.
Mammoth has a number of ski-in ski-out options clustered in and around the bottom of the lifts for those wanting a head start on a powder day.
Mammoth Mountain Accommodations Listings
Mammoth Nightlife and Activities
Being a well developed resort, Mammoth has a great range of dining and shopping options. Nightlife is somewhat subdued and centred around some good restaurants and a few bars, and for the diehard party animal there are several nightclubs on offer.
Mammoth also offers a range of other activities including snowcat tours, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
More Reasons for a Ski or Snowboard Vacation at Mammoth
Mammoth also has a little sister in the form of June Mountain. Skiable on the same lift pass and just 20 miles to the north of Mammoth, June Mountain offers a family friendly and quieter alternative to Mammoth Mountain.