Mammoth Lakes has so much to do over the summer. It’s impossible to fit everything in, but we’ll help guide you with this jam-packed Mammoth Lakes itinerary. We were so impressed with the views, the outdoor adventure opportunities and the food!
How to get to Mammoth Lakes
Fly into Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) in Mammoth Lakes via Advanced Airlines.
Fly into Bishop Airport (BIH) in Bishop, CA via United Airlines. This small regional airport has flights seasonally and is located an hour drive from Mammoth. Check out the flight schedule to be sure there is a flight during the time of year you plan to arrive.
You can also drive from airports in Nevada, Northern California, or Southern California, but keep an eye on road conditions during the winter.
Where to Stay in Mammoth Lakes
There is a plethora of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals in Mammoth Lakes. For our Mammoth Lakes itinerary, we stayed at Tamarack Lodge and loved having our own cozy cabin with a kitchen and a fireplace. The lodge grounds are beautiful and Tamarack is centrally located to all of the places on this list.
Responsible Recreation in Mammoth Lakes
The Leave No Trace Principles are so important to follow in order to recreate responsibly, stay safe, and keep Mammoth Lakes beautiful for years to come.
There are 7 principles:
- plan ahead and prepare: research current weather and trail conditions, bring enough food and water, bring/download an offline map, prepare for crowds in certain areas
- travel and camp on durable surfaces: be sure not to hike off trail or use social trails! Camp at designated areas only
- dispose of waste properly: even an orange peel or cherry pit can disturb the ecosystem and take years to decompose. Be sure to pack out absolutely everything!
- leave what you find: do not take rocks or build cairns of rocks, do not carve into trees or other natural object
- minimize campfire impacts: know current fire restrictions, keep fires small and only use established firerings
- respect wildlife: be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and 25 yards away from all other animals
- be considerate of other visitors: do not play music on the trail, give the right of way to uphill hikers
Day 1
Walk the Lakes Basin Path
After arriving and checking in at Tamarack Lodge and Resort, we took a quick walk to explore on the Lakes Basin Path. The Lakes Basin Path is a paved path starting in downtown Mammoth and travels to various lakes. You can walk the entire 5 mile path if you’d like, but even just a short section would be worth it! We did the section around Lake Mary and the views were beautiful.
Dinner at Distant Brewing
After working up an appetite on your walk, head to Distant Brewing for dinner and great beer. This laid back spot has a huge variety of its own brews as well as local ciders and even non-alcoholic options. You’ll also find a variety of comfort food including sandwiches, salads, and soups.
Day 2
Coffee and breakfast from Looney Bean Mammoth
We fueled up with delicious lattes at this cozy coffee spot before our jam-packed day.
Hike the Duck Pass Trail
This 10 mile trail has epic views along the entire trail. Its a tough one with 2,152 feet of elevation gain, but it’s well worth it. You’ll pass 5 lakes and panoramic views.
Lunch at Noodle-LY
Noodle-LY is such a cool little spot. They serve a variety of Asian noodle soups. We enjoyed some Thai teas and pho which was delicious. It’s located in a shopping plaza with ample parking.
Kayak at Lake Mary
If you want to be be surrounded by mountain peaks while you kayak, head to Lake Mary! They rent kayaks, paddleboards, and more or you could go for a dip. Keep in mind that Lake Mary is windier in the afternoon, so if you prefer a calm ride, you may want to schedule this for the morning.
Rock Tub Hot Spring
Mammoth Lakes has so many hot springs within a small vicinity. If you visit Rock Tub, you can soak in a beautiful natural hot spring while surrounded by mountain views. This is on BLM land, so be sure to pack out all of your trash.
Dinner at Dos Alas Cafe
This amazing CubaRican cafe with beautiful mountain views was a highlight of our trip! It was too windy for us, but if you can, you should sit outside and enjoy the beautiful views as the sun sets. We still walked around outside while we enjoyed our pre-dinner sangria. We honestly still think about that sangria! It was so fresh. Their menu is unique with a mix of classic Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes. We were able to try many new to us dishes including shrimp escabasche which is a cold acidic dish made with vinegar and paprika. You can’t go wrong here!
Day 3
Breakfast at Stellar Brew
Another day, another incredible coffee shop! This may have been our favorite of the whole trip due to the variety of breakfast and snack items as well as the speciality coffee options.
Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow Falls hike
This 5 mile hike takes you past hexagonal basalt columns formed by lava and ends at a stunning 101-foot waterfall.
Shuttle reservations are required during the summer and you should reserve tickets in advance on Reds Meadow Shuttle from Mammoth Mountain. The shuttle is required after 7 AM.
Not only will you enjoy beautiful Rainbow Falls, but this hike passes by unique hexagonal basalt columns known as Devil’s Postpile. They are similar to the ones we saw in Iceland and such a unique geological feature!
Lunch at The Warming Hut
We grabbed sandwiches and iced tea at the Warming Hut which as a Mammoth Lakes staple. The cute and cozy interior would be perfect after skiing in the winter too.
Explore Hot Creek Geologic Site
This unique spot is home to geysers and geothermal features and is a must visit. We loved taking photos here. You can and should walk the short trails, but be sure to respect the signs that tell you where to avoid. This area can be dangerous and people have died here.
Swim at Convict Lake
Convict Lake is a bright turquoise blue lake with dramatic mountain peaks surrounding it. You can swim, boat, and kayak in the lake as well as walk along the lakeshore trail. We loved relaxing on the shore and swimming here. There are multiple entry points where you can park and swim. Don’t miss this spot! It’s one of the most popular lakes in Mammoth for a reason.
Dinner at The Lakefront Mammoth
We fell in love with this incredible fine dining restaurant located steps away from our cabin at the Tamarack Lodge. Dinner consisted of arctic char, salmon, watermelon chili sorbet, and white chocolate mousse. We talked about this meal for months afterward! We loved how the dishes were gourmet, but the setting felt casual and relaxed. It was such a great night and the staff was excellent.
Day 4
Breakfast at The Stove
The Stove is a classic diner with huge portions of delicious comfort food. It was the best last meal to end our trip before heading towards the airport!
Mono Lake
This unique saline lake is like nothing we have ever seen. This is a popular place, but the parking lot is large so parking shouldn’t be an issue.
Tons of mineral structures called “tufa” surround the lake resulting in gorgeous reflections in the lake. We went here during the day, but have heard sunrise and sunset is magical. You can walk the trails here and even kayak on the lake.
Definitely a must see in Mammoth Lakes.
