Mammoth Mountain Travel Guide

Feb 20

Feb 20 Mammoth Mountain Travel Guide

For the President’s Day long weekend, I traveled to Mammoth with my boyfriend Francisco and a close group of friends to ski. It was a fun and relaxing weekend in the mountains. While the snow conditions were icy, the trip was still a blast because there is so much to do in Mammoth. Check out my tips & tricks to plan your next mountain trip.

Traveling to Mammoth

Drive: The drive to Mammoth took us 6 hours including three stops. We left Friday around 12:30 pm to beat the long weekend traffic. It is a stunning drive through the Mojave desert and along the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The slow elevation gain is also easy on the stomach compared to the steep, windy roads to Big Bear. Due note, chains may be required in some conditions.
Pit Stops: Lone Pine Smokehouse and Schat’s Bakery in Bishop are popular places to grab a bite before/after the mountain drive. Be sure to tank up before the mountain for cheaper prices.
Fly: There are cheap flights to the tiny Mammoth airport. We decided to drive instead, because a car is essential in Mammoth. There is a decent bus network, but for quicker transportation, it is easier to have your own ride.

Skiing Mammoth Mountain

Favorite Slopes: While the conditions were icy and windy, Mammoth had great runs. I loved all of the runs off of Chair 12 including Bristlecone, Critters, and White Bark Ridge. Stumptown Alley and the trails off of Roller Coaster Express were also moderate and less crowded. We also skied down from the Gondola, which was especially challenging because the easiest trail down is narrow, icy and packed.
Where to eat: We bought lunch both days at the Main Lodge cafeteria. It was reasonably cheap and there were plenty of tables. The Yodler Restaurant is supposed to be super good and inexpensive as well.
Rentals: We rented our skis and gear from Footloose Sports Shop in town. They had a large selection of demo equipment and great customer service.
Tickets: Buying ski passes a week ahead of time gets you up to 40% off. We picked up our tickets at the Main Lodge ticket counter our first morning.
Parking: We parked at the Mill, which was free and accessible to the Main Lodge by bus and ski trail.
Lessons: Francisco took 3 group lessons and really liked his instructor. The mountain had a lot of easy slopes to learn and practice new skills.

Activities in Mammoth

Hot Springs: We first stopped at Wild Willy’s Hot Spring, but other visitors told us it was a 30 minute walk past the parking area to an over crowded knee deep spring. We ended up at the Crab Cooker Hot Spring, which was more of a man-made tub. The hot spring only fit 10 people, so we had to wait 20 minutes in the chilly field to get in. The views were incredible and the sunset was amazing to watch.
Shopping: McCoys in Mammoth Village is a great spot to pick up souvenirs. Our rental spot Footloose Sports had a huge selection of ski gear and the store at the Main Lodge also had great picks.
Yoga: Mountain Sol Yoga had a great schedule of classes. I will definitely stop there for our next trip!

Restaurants in Mammoth

John’s Pizza Works: After checking into our Airbnb, this was our first stop in Mammoth. This was the highest rated pizza joint in the area, however the long line and overcrowded restaurant was not a highlight of our trip. The pizza was decent, but $30 for a large pie.
Burgers Restaurant: For a busy weekend like President’s Day, we were sure to make a reservation for our dinner out Saturday night. This popular spot in Mammoth is an easy, inexpensive “diner” with decent food.
Mammoth Tavern, Kitchen 53, The Warming Hut & Mammoth Brewery were also highly recommended spots.

Beating Altitude Sickness

Mammoth Village is at 8,000 ft, which is especially high for a ski town. Here are my tips for being prepared for the altitude:

Drink lots of water!
Acli-Mate is my go to altitude supplement with tons of vitamins and electrolytes to help adjust to higher elevations
Alka Seltzer + Tylenol
Oxygen canisters can help alleviate headaches and can be purchased online or at local Mammoth stores.

Where to Stay in Mammoth

AirBnB is a great option with the most bang for your buck. We booked our fantastic three bedroom condo three months in advance, which got us a great price on a ton of space. The condo had a large living room, dining room, kitchen, fire place and two parking spots.