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Mammoth: Insider Ski & Snowboard Tips
Mammoth’s iconic black and double-black diamond runs like Dragons Tail, Dave’s Run, Paranoid Flats and Cornice Bowl (and more) are not for the faint hearted but when you score powder on terrain like that – well, it is skiing at its best.
However, Mammoth’s huge variety of terrain means there is something for everyone and every standard of skier and boarder. The open bowls and wide gladed tree runs offer some incredible soft snow and windblown stashes and the groomed runs are in perfect shape, flawless dry corduroy waiting for some high speed early morning turns.
Mammoth is also a freeriders dream. Given its parks and natural fun terrain, Mammoth is home mountain to some of the biggest names in snow, including Olympic halfpipe champs Shaun White and Cloe Kim, freeride skier Chris Benchetler and the legendary Glenn Plake.
Mammoth: Access
Mammoth Mountain sits above Mammoth Lakes in Eastern California. It’s around 500km north of Los Angeles, 580km from San Francisco, 270km from Reno Nevada and 225km from South Lake Tahoe. Alaska Airline and United fly to Mammoth from LAX, SFO an SAN.
The drive to Mammoth offers a spectacular tour of the Eastern Sierra. From the moment you hit the highway, you travel through one of the most beautiful portions of California. Valleys give way to mountains and energy builds until Mammoth Mountain looms in the distance. Access is possible from all directions via the scenic north-to-south US Hwy 395, running along the eastern edge of California’s Sierra Nevada Range.
Visitors can also travel to the Mammoth area by bus and/or shuttle as well as taxi and rental cars once they’ve arrived in town. Both public transit and private charter services are available, all offering competitive rates and stress-free transportation to Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding area.
Mammoth: Accommodation
There is a vast array of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Staying in the village is very convenient with easy access to the mountain via a gondola from the village centre to the Canyon Lodge base. I can recommend the Village Lodge, right in the centre of the Village, with self-contained apartments, outdoor pool and spa – perfect for families.
Mammoth: Restaurants & Apres
The expansive mountain is complemented by a cool central village that is well serviced with a gondola from the village centre to the base of the mountain at Canyon Lodge. Mammoth Village comes to life in the afternoon with live music, open gas fires and a variety of restaurants, bars and shops all within a short stroll of each other. The town of Mammoth Lakes is a few minutes away and with free shuttles running around the entire area from 7am until after midnight, it is easy to get around without a car.
Mammoth: Non-Skiing Activities
Mammoth supports a mammoth amount of non-skiing activities (pun very much intended). Try your hand at snow tubing, go for a snow mobile/snow cat tour or take a scenic gondola ride to the summit of Mammoth 3369m above sea level to take in one of the most stunning views you’ll find in California.