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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Mammoth
Lakes Los Angeles Road Trip
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By Lacey
Kohlmoos |
For over
100 years, Mammoth Lakes has drawn thousands of visitors
each summer to enjoy the area’s spectacular natural
beauty. In addition to the town’s proximity to the
stunning Yosemite National Park, the area surrounding
Mammoth offers endless hiking, biking, fishing and camping
options for the outdoors enthusiast. But the Mammoth Lakes
fun doesn’t end on Labor Day.
Mammoth Mountain is one of the largest ski resorts in
the US and attracts droves of skiers and snowboarders
every year with its challenging terrain, gorgeous views
and huge amounts of snow that keep the resort open well
into the summer months.
Before it became at a summer retreat and winter playground,
however, Mammoth Lakes was a mining town. Thousands of
prospectors descended on the Mammoth Lakes area from 1877-1879
to find their fortune. Unfortunately for them, the abundant
riches that were expected never materialized, and mining
stopped in 1880.
By the early 1900s, Mammoth Lakes became a summer destination
for families from Bishop and Los Angeles drawn by the
area’s natural beauty. It wasn’t until Highway
395 was built in 1937, however, that Mammoth became more
than a sleepy little summer retreat. In the 1930s, the
first ski lift built on McGee Mountain attracted a few
enthusiastic skiers – one of which was Dave McCoy.
A ski bum at heart, McCoy bought the Mammoth ski lift
in 1938 and set up a portable rope tow. After World War
II, McCoy built a permanent rope tow, followed by the
Main Lodge in 1947 and then the first chairlift in 1955.
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Road To Mammoth Mountain |
Today Mammoth
Mountain is one of the largest ski resorts in the area with
four lodges, three gondolas, 25 other chairlifts and 150
named trails. With an 11,053 foot summit, 3,500 acres of
skiable terrain and an average of over 400 inches of snowfall
a year, Mammoth Mountain is often able to stay open well
into the summer months.
Starting in April, visitors are able to ski or snowboard
in the morning and golf, fish, mountain bike or hike in
the afternoon. This unique mixture of winter and summer
attractions has made Mammoth Lake the perfect family vacation
spot all year round.
For those visitors not interested in downhill skiing or
snowboarding, Mammoth Lakes offers a multitude of other
ways to enjoy the snow-covered winter wonderland. The Tamarack
Cross Country Ski Center and Mammoth Lakes Nordic Trail
System provide miles of groomed trails around the Twin Lakes
and Mammoth Lakes Basin.
The Inyo National Forest also has a great winter trail system
to park destinations such as Inyo Craters, Obsidian Dome
and Hot Creek. Snowmobiling on Mammoth Lakes’ 80-mile
system of trails and 75,000 acres of open area is a great
way to explore the Eastern Sierra’s unique wintertime
beauty without any physical exertion.
Summertime in Mammoth Lakes offers visitors a whole array
of activities, attractions and events. The town’s
Sierra Summer Festival, Bluesapalooza, Mammoth Festival
and Taste of Mammoth represent only some of the crowd-pleasing
events of the summer. Mammoth Lakes’ proximity to
gorgeous hiking, biking, fishing and camping spots have
drawn visitors for over 100 years.
The gorgeous five lakes in Mammoth Lakes Basin is only a
ten minute drive from town, while the spectacular trails
system and landmark Half Dome of Yosemite National Park
is only a 45 minute drive north. |
Mammoth Mountain Winter |
Lake George Mammoth Lakes |
Mammoth Mountain’s hiking and mountain
biking trails and scenic rides up the gondola are just
some of the ways to enjoy the resort after the snow melts.
Ten miles past Mammoth Mountain lies the trailhead for
a short hike to the unique formations of Devils Postpile
National Monument and the 101-foot Rainbow Falls, so named
for the rainbows seen in the mist when the sun is at its
highest.
Bodie State Historical Park was one of the wildest mining
camps in the area, but is now a ghost town that will fascinate
the entire family. To the south of Mammoth Lakes lies
the Hot Creek Geologic Site and Hot Creek Fish Hatchery,
as well as Convict Lake – the scene of an 1871 gun
fight and home to some of the oldest rocks in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
Mammoth Lakes is located on Highway 203 off of Highway
395 about six hours from Los Angeles, three hours from
Lake Tahoe and five to seven hours from the Bay Area.
From the Los Angeles area, take 405 North to 14 North
to 395 North. Leaving from Lake Tahoe, take 395 South
all the way to 203. Consult local resources for road conditions
to determine the best route to Mammoth Lakes from the
Bay Area.
If you don't want to drive Alaska Airlines
and United Airlines offer flights from LAX to Mammoth
Lakes. (about $160.0 per person round trip)
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Alabama
Hills
stop by and visit these facinating rock formations
on your way to Mammoth. |
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Bodie
Ghost Town by
far the best Ghost Town to vist in California. Road
closed winters. |
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