Mammoth Mountain

About Mammoth Mountain

If an incredible 50-plus-year reputation, 400-plus inches of snow annually, and a vast, and varied amount of terrain sound like the trip you've been searching for, then a Mammoth ski vacation is sure to fit the bill. Located in the Eastern Sierra range, Mammoth has been a place for families to connect with nature and one another for more than half a century.

Mammoth’s standing as California’s premier winter mountain resort continues to grow as amenities such as the Village at Mammoth, Unbound Terrain Parks and Ski and Snowboard School offer world-class experiences. Mammoth Mountain boasts 3,500 skiable acres, ample snow and a season that lasts from November through June.

How to get to Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain is accessible via Mammoth Yosemite Airport, with seasonal flights from major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver. Shuttle services from the airport to the resort, along with the proximity to U.S. Highway 395, make travel convenient for visitors driving from various points in California and Nevada.

Getting around

The complimentary shuttle service within Mammoth Mountain adds convenience, making it easy for families to explore different areas or for friends to make it to the après party in town.

Skiing in Mammoth Mountain

Skiers and boarders in search of fresh powder are sure to find it at Mammoth. The resort boats the highest elevation—11,053 feet—for skiing and snowboarding in California, and receives, as aforementioned, a whopping 400-plus inches of snow annually.

With 3,500 acres of terrain, a 3,100-foot vertical descent and nearly 40 percent designated as intermediate, you can bet that intermediate skiers and boarders will find their own slice of heaven.

Beginner Skiing in Mammoth Mountain

If you look at a trail map and notice black and double black diamonds dominating what looks to be the entire mountain, don’t fret. Sure, Mammoth’s ridgeline is an expert skiers paradise, but beginners have plenty of options.

With 25 percent of the terrain marked as green beginner terrain, you can bet a Mammoth ski vacation will please novice skiers or snowboarders

Main Lodge Village and Canyon Lodge

The majority of green runs are near the base of the mountain, specifically around Main Lodge Village and Canyon Lodge.

For those looking to advance their skills, there are several other runs that have a bit more than a “gentle” slope. Notable runs include Easy Rider, accessible from the top of Canyon Express or Roller Coaster. This wide trail offers a slightly steeper pitch, perfect for beginners ready to progress. Additionally, more challenging green runs can be found off Eagle Express and Chair 25.

Expert Skiing in Mammoth Mountain

The famed ridgeline, which extends the entire resort, comprises more than 30 percent of the resort’s 3,500 skiable acres and is the ultimate expert skier or snowboarder paradise.

The ridge and the four lower benches offer experts a never-ending amount of bowl and powder field skiing, as well as short, steep chutes, cliffs, moguls interesting fall line slopes including several gullies and gulches, and several cornice drops.

Combine all those delightful terrain nuggets with 400 inches of snowfall a year, and you’ve got one unbeatable playground.

Ski Like a Local

If you’re looking for some epic Sierra views (and the best Mammoth expert terrain), head straight to the Panorama Gondola. Once at Mammoth’s 11,000-foot “Top of the Sierra” summit, you can see for miles. Look over the ridgeline, or cornice depending on where you’re standing, and get excited. You’re looking down at 2,000-plus feet of wide-open pristine bowl skiing.

Begin your journey at the Eagle Lodge base village, located at the resort's easternmost edge, and chase the sun across the mountain. Enjoy several runs on Chairs 15, 24, or 25, then make your way to Chair 22 for a selection of challenging black diamond trails or an exhilarating early-morning adventure on the double-black chutes.

Head to Chair 9, and make your way to the high alpine bowls along the famed Mammoth expert terrain. You have your pick, but if you’re looking for your own piece of paradise White Bark Bowl, and the entire backside of the mountain is usually unoccupied.

Mammoth Mountain Terrain Parks

Mammoth is renowned as a world-class destination for progressive park and halfpipe skiing and snowboarding. The world’s best train here, including Olympic and X Games snowboard hero Shaun White. Mammoth’s freestyle scene includes an 18-foot superpipe and boasts one of the world’s few 22-foot “superduper” pipes.

Expert terrain park skiers and riders will love testing their skills at Unbound Main Park, just keep your eyes peeled for the pros. South Park, Eagle Park and Forest Trail Park will keep intermediate to advanced riders well-occupied.

Family vacations in Mammoth Mountain

With a slew of family-friendly activities from skiing and snowboarding, to dog sledding, tubing, ice skating, and a movie theater for a more relaxing family evening, a Mammoth family ski vacation will create lasting memories. 

Teens with a penchant for freestyle skiing or snowboarding will revel in experiencing Mammoth’s world-class Unbound terrain park, which is the training ground for Olympic and X Games superstar Shaun White. Mammoth’s terrain parks are progressively designed with safety in mind so even the little ones can enjoy the experience.

Between downtown Mammoth Lakes, and the resorts five base villages, families in search of things to do in Mammoth will find they have an overwhelming amount of activities to choose from.

Visitors have a variety of options to enjoy in Mammoth, from an afternoon spent exploring local shops, to a family or romantic evening at Minaret Cinemas. For those interested in the arts and drama, both the Sierra Classic Theater and the Mammoth Lakes Art Center offer captivating experiences. Additionally, Mammoth boasts several art galleries, including the Mammoth Gallery, renowned for its local fine art photography.