Resort information for Mammoth

Mammoth is set above Mammoth Lakes and spreads over a wide area of woodland. The place is entirely geared to driving, with no discernible centre. The town meets the mountain at two lift bases, both a mile or two from most of the hotels and condos. Shuttle-buses run on several colour-coded routes serving the lift bases (though they are reported to be erratic in the morning). A car is useful. The 28 lifts access an impressive area, suitable for all abilities.

The highest runs are open, the lower ones more sheltered by trees. Finding your way around is not easy at first. Many of the chair-lifts now have names, but the trails are still ill-defined. Mammoth has an impressive snow record – an annual average of 385 inches, which puts it ahead of major Colorado resorts. Mammoth is appreciably higher than other Californian resorts, and it has an ever-expanding array of snow-guns, so it enjoys a long season. The mountain faces roughly north, and snow quality can be affected by winds. During the week the lifts and slopes are usually very quiet with few queues, but even the efficient lift system can struggle when 15,000 visitors arrive from LA on fine peak-season weekends.

There is an outstanding choice for eating out, and reporters continue to be impressed by the 50+ restaurants, varying widely in style, cost and location. The liveliest immediate après-ski spot is the Yodler, at Main Lodge – a chalet transported from Switzerland, so they say. Later on, things revolve around a handful of bars, which come to life at weekends.