Mammoth Mountain

California’s big volcano, often skiing into June.

California’s highest lift-served peak, with 3,500 acres off an 11,053-ft volcano and a season that typically runs from November into June. Summit chutes, ten terrain parks and two halfpipes keep experts and park riders busy, while The Village has restaurants, bars and a gondola to Canyon Lodge. Snowmobile tours, dog sledding, tubing and the Tamarack cross-country center fill rest days.

The mountain

Vertical drop

3,100 ft

Summit

11,053 ft

Skiable terrain

3,500 acres

Trails

180

Lifts

25

Average snowfall

350″ a year

Longest run

3 mi

Snowmaking

20% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 13%
• Intermediate 48%
• Advanced 39%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Snow tubing
• Snowmobiling
• Ice skating
• Scenic lift rides
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country
• Dog sledding
• Mountain coaster
• Zipline
• Nightlife
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasDay after Thanksgiving (annual)Usually

  Holiday Tree Lighting

  Santa and Woolly, live music and the first lighting of The Village holiday tree. Free.

• ChristmasDec 12, 5–10 pm

  Night of Lights

  Holiday celebration at Canyon Lodge with fireworks, live music and kids’ activities.

• New Year’sDec 31, fireworks at 9 pm

  New Year’s Eve in The Village

  Family-friendly party and fireworks in The Village, timed early so you can still make first chair. New Year’s Eve dinners at the resort’s restaurants.

• Opening dayNov 13, lifts at 8:30 am

  Opening Day

  First chairs of the 2026–27 season, conditions permitting.

• EventDec 5–11

  Kids Ski Free Week

  Children 12 and under ski free with a $0 ticket reserved online.

• Pond skimMid-April (annual)Usually

  Pond Skim

  Costumed skiers and riders try to cross a 100-ft pond at Canyon Lodge, with an afterparty at Lincoln Bar. Canceled in 2026 for lack of snow.

Where to stay

• ski-in/ski-outJuniper Springs Resort

  Family-friendly condos with kitchens and a heated pool at Eagle Lodge, with ski-in, ski-out access.

  Slopeside at Eagle Lodge
• slopesideMammoth Mountain Inn

  Hotel across from Main Lodge and the Panorama Gondola, with a heated pool and the mountain’s activities next door.

  Slopeside at Main Lodge
• base villageThe Village Lodge

  Condo-style suites in The Village, steps from shops and restaurants and the gondola up to Canyon Lodge.

  Village Gondola
• lodgeTamarack Lodge

  Historic lodge and cabins in the Lakes Basin, with the cross-country trails right outside.

  10 min drive
• hotelThe Westin Monache Resort

  Full-service hotel in The Village, a short walk from the gondola.

  In The Village
• hostelDavison St. Guest House

  A-frame ski chalet that runs as a hostel, with dorm beds, private rooms and a shared kitchen. Hostel bookings open two weeks out.

  Walk to Canyon Lodge

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures · Main Lodge

  Guided snowmobile tours into the Inyo National Forest, run daily by the resort.

• Woolly’s Adventure Summit · Between The Village and Main Lodge

  Tube park, mountain coaster, zip line and snow play in one spot. An Adventure Pass covers the rides.

• Panorama Gondola scenic ride · Main Lodge

  Non-skiers can ride to the 11,053-ft summit for big views across the Sierra.

• Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center · 10 min drive

  More than 19 miles of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails in the Lakes Basin, with rentals and lessons.

• Dog sledding with Mammoth Dog Teams · Mammoth Lakes

  Sled-dog rides on the packed trails around town, a nod to the dog teams that carried passengers and freight here in the 1920s.

• LA Kings Ice at Mammoth Lakes · 10 min drive

  Indoor Olympic-size rink with daily public skate sessions and rentals, October to April.

• Mammoth Brewing Company · 10 min drive

  The town’s brewery, with a tasting room, beer garden and food from The EATery.

Après and nightlife

• Yodler Restaurant & Bar

  Chalet-style slopeside bar across from Main Lodge, a Mammoth institution.

• Lincoln Bar

  Ski-in indoor and outdoor bar at Canyon Lodge, where the weekend après parties happen.

• Clocktower Cellar

  Locals’ pub under the Alpenhof Lodge clock tower, across from the Village Gondola, with a big draft list.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Eastern Sierra Regional (Bishop) (BIH) · about 45 min drive
• Los Angeles · about 5 hr
• Reno · about 3 hr
• San Francisco · about 7 hr

Directions in Google Maps