Mammoth Mountain Ski Area

The mountain is really well run. Lifts, slopes, food are all well thought out and a pleasure. Staff is friendly and the ski lifts are comfortable and fast. At least most of them are. The ski slopes are well groomed and signage easy to follow. Just such a joy!

Loved this place. Stayed here for the weekend of February 19, 2016. Tried to ski. Haven’t been here in over 10 years. Altitude kills me. Quaint city.

It’s usually so windy up here that I’m just gonna call Mammoth «Lower Mountain» from now on because that’s all that’s open whenever I go.

Excellent snow conditions.
The best skiing place I have been to.
I took a lesson, great teachers.
For beginners they have a great package which includes lesson, rental plus lift ticket (Only works for beginner slopes).
For more advanced slopes can take the full access ski lift tickets.
They also have a Gondola that goes to the top of the mountain (which is about 3,000 ft from the base at around 10,840 ft.) Can be used just to go to the top, look around and come down or if you are adventurous can go up via Gondola and ski or snowboard down.
For parking, if you don’t find parking close by, park in any of the lots and take the free shuttle to move around.

Best place to ski in California. There are tons of lifts across a wide variety of different skill leveled trails, plenty of places to eat or take a breather slope side and its absolutely gorgeous. #mammoth #skimammoth

Came here for a week long snowboarding trip and was so happy I made the long drive here! The first couple days we had some fresh powder from a nice winter storm, which made snowboarding much more enjoyable.
This mountain has so many lifts and various slopes from just a single lift. Very expansive so one can find some less trafficked slopes. It’s mainly blue and blacks here, so if you’re a beginner you will be limited with the green slopes. Look for online deals for lift tickets, which is what our group did. Also, there are various lodges located throughout the mountain, so you can always come in to take a break.

Probably the best snow mountain in California for your winter sports thrill! I’ve only gone to Mammoth twice. Both times it snowed.
This last weekend the weather wasn’t the greatest. A blizzard came through once we arrived in the early evenings Friday night and did not stop snowing. Some of the slopes had to close down because of the high winds. Safety first! Having a gust of wind and snow hitting you while on the lift was not fun at all. But to be riding on fresh power is the best! You can fall and not worry too much about how painful it is. There’s so much room; so good boarders and skier can bypass the beginners or people like me who are rusty.
Check the weather forecast and make sure to bring chains for your wheels, just it case.
I hope to make it to the next trip!

This resort is like my second home during snow season. I live in OC but I would rather drive 5.5 hours to go snowboarding there than go to any local mountains. Love all parts of the mountain, especially the back side when it dumps. It’s straight butter. I will forever be this resort’s guest. Love this place!

I’ve been to some bigger parks — Park City, Breckenridge, Heavenly. I’ve been to some smaller parks — Durango, Bryan Head. Mammoth has a big park feel. The runs are great (though, I am not a good snowboarder) and the lifts are well maintained. It does get pretty crowded when there’s snow but when does it not at other parks? The people working are really nice (except for the drivers on the Green Line buses). Food options are to be expected — decent but pricey (the tostada bowl from Main Lodge is pretty good). The bus system is nice to have but takes a really long time. It took me an hour to get from Main Lodge to Eagle Lodge. I should’ve just boarded my way over.

I have been to all of the ski resorts in Central and Southern California. Mammoth is by far the best place I have skied. Truly a gem. From expert skiers to novices. There is something for everyone. I have skied all day and didn’t hit the same run twice. Truly a massive mountain.

I’m so happy we finally got up to Mammoth after living in SoCal for 3 years! It was awesome. We may never go to Big Bear again. May as well drive a couple more hours and ski a REAL mountain. It’s a cool drive up there, it’s a cool area, love the little village and the restaurants… it sort of reminded me of Tahoe and the views are AWESOME. Can’t wait for our next trip up!

I’m very picky about my ski resorts. Although my Unilocal account may suggest otherwise, I don’t get much out of visiting a mountain resort with a Ritz Carlton located halfway up the slopes. I ski to get out of the city — to escape suburbia, to seek something more primal and natural. Mammoth Mountain offers this, and is the ski mountain closest to my heart (though Big Sky and June Mountain make a credible run for it as well). While other resorts might offer ski valets and member-​only clubs (Mammoth offers these as well… you just need to find them), Mammoth’s focus remains the great Sierra wilderness, and the pleasures that come with dancing with the mountain. It is a mountain in transition — a mountain attempting to grow and evolve to keep up with the hospitality industry’s hijacking of the skier’s experience. But it retains a skier’s soul — a funkiness and utilitarian charm all its own.
What makes Mammoth the best?
1) Lift system — Mammoth markets itself as a «world class resort,» but one of the few world class elements that it in-​arguably excels at is its lift system. Few resorts can approach its total of 11 high-​speed quads (Big Sky — though 2,000 acres bigger, has a mere 6) and a well-​thought out system of placement that allows skiers to cross the mountain from east to west with as few as one or two chair rides. The sheer scope and variety of Mammoth’s terrain can be feasibly accessed from any of its 5 base lodges — your morning may begin in the glades of Eagle and a ride up Chair 9 you’ll find yourself careening down the bowls and chutes above high-​elevation main lodge. And to make it even better, 17 standard lifts lie in isolated reaches of the mountain — serving terrain that is (often) uncrowded and untracked… even on the busiest days. And with three gondolas (with more planned), there’s even shelter to be had as you brave the windy summit.
2) Views — Compared to most ski resorts, which rest on a shoulder of a mountain (Jackson Hole) Mammoth stands as a topographically prominent mass of its own. Like few other resorts (Big Sky comes to mind as perhaps the most comparable) Mammoth rises above the town as a distinctively scenic feature of the landscape, and the resort encompasses the ENTIRE mountain. The topographic prominence guarantees expansive views: practically the entire eastern half of California is visible from its slopes — basins of glacial lakes, sawtooth ridgelines, National Parks, volcanic cones and badlands, dense forested hills… all of it stands at your feet. Moreover, the views within the resort are often spectacular: sheer cliff faces and colossal formations rise above skiers (particularly in the Mill Café, Chair 10 region), and indeed some areas rest in a cradle of protected wilderness (Chair 13 and 14) — providing a sense of remoteness and peace.
3) Variety of Terrain — Many resorts cater to one skier’s market or another. Some are almost exclusively for experts (Jackson Hole’s 50% advanced terrain, for instance). Others are practically Beginner’s Only (Vail). Mammoth Mountain’s undulating terrain, however, transitions between gladed steeps to volcanic chutes to «freeway» blues to river runs to bunny hills to tree skiing to terrain parks… and lots of each of them. A single day at Mammoth provides gentle experiences akin to that of June Mountain alongside Olympic scale race runs alongside the biggest freestyle terrain imaginable. This is where snowboarding was born after all. And each run is satisfyingly long — some are over 4 miles long. If you have the requisite skills, you won’t be bored here.
4) The Snow — Few resorts approach Mammoth’s 395 inch average. Even fewer (maybe only Mt. Bachelor in the Cascades) possesses a season that lasts nearly as long — Memorial Day closings are guaranteed, while July 4 closings and Halloween openings are common. Mammoth’s high elevation, and location adjacent to Mammoth Pass, promises big snow. Even drought conditions are appreciably better here than at Tahoe. You can have all the amenities in the world. But if you don’t have the snow to back it up… what’s the point? I might as well hit up the Four Seasons in Hawaii.
5) Weather — 300 days of sun. Storms blow in, dump their payload, and disappear. While other resorts offer incredible terrain and snow quality (Jackson Hole), their weather is horrific. Mammoth’s average daytime temperatures of 38 degrees in January are a welcome, differentiating factor. Few ski resorts can boast the quality of Mammoth’s snow AND it’s temperate weather. Just stay indoors when the storms arrive…
Things like base facilities and food service (each discussed in a separate review) deserve further comment — this is where it gets a little funky or weak.
That aside, Mammoth delivers. Mammoth will give you a great adventure to reminisce about before your fireplace at the close of each snow day. It’s a mountain that can love you and kick your ass all at once.
4 ½ out of 5

The snow is fantastic right now! El Nino is treating Mammoth well. Coverage is great. If you are a ski bunny or powder hound you need to get up there! What are you waiting for?
Numerous lifts and runs are open. Lots of groomed runs too. Yes, lift tickets are expensive. But it’s expensive everywhere. This is the best place to ski in California for sure!

Skiing big mountains is my passion. One of my life goals is to spend a winter in a resort area. To breathe the air, savor the vistas and ski in fresh snow for a season.
Mammoth has the elements that put it on the candidate list for me. I’m a native northern Californian and grew my ski legs at Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl. Getting to Mammoth was always on my list but the extra travel effort meant that it was not practical. Mrs G is a SoCal gal and she cut her teeth here so, we’ve opened up our ski lives for each other. North meets South here.
On my first visit I realized that I had backpacked from nearby Devils Post Pile into Yosemite valley on a 50 mile hike!
SETTING
The ski area hovers over a well developed town in a remote area known as the Owens Valley. The drive from the Lake Tahoe area is stunningly beautiful. The Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns have the same vast scenery.
The unique setting of the resort sits on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada with a northern aspect. Rising from 8,000 feet to 11,000, can create very cold conditions. Pacific storms hit this massive wall and pound deep high quality snow in a way that exceeds the most if not all the Tahoe ski areas.
The terrain is impressive and has a range that appeals to everyone. It is so big that it really takes a few days to see all of it. The signature rides are the gondola and chair 23 that access the cornice. It’s steep pitch and long descent are more similar to Canadian resorts. The panoramic view from the top gives you a look at the Owens Valley and the Sierra Nevada range. On a clear day you can see forever. The snow here is ALWAYS the best.
The ski area is divided by ridges and valleys that mean there are three or four sections that are all served by large lodges.
Chair 5 is sort of like the continental divide here and provides access to most of the sub-​areas. It also has some phenomenal chutes like Dry Creek.
The back side has western exposure for long bowl and tree skiing on sunny days. You really feel cut off from civilization here but there is also large tabled outpost that serves beer.
Chair 9 is glades and is a great option when visibility problems force the gondola to close.
And then there’s Lincoln Mountain sitting in the middle of everything providing expert terrain and lots of vertical feet. Hit this after one of those big Pacific storms!
The terrain park is huge.
LODGING & FOOD
It is mostly a drive from nearby hotels, inns and condo. I stay with relatives so I do t have much advice on where to sleep.
The slopes have the typical range of food and beverages and prices are similar to other world class resorts. McCoys is where we re-​fuel.
There are a ton of great restaurants and bars in Mammoth Lakes village area.
GETTING HERE
Not always easy. Coming from Née York a few years ago, we flew to SFO and changed planes for the one hour flight to Mammoth /​Yosemite airport. High winds forced our flight to Orange County and we had to rent a car and drive. Same thing happened to my son this year.
For this trip we decided to fly to Reno /​Tahoe and drive down the aforementioned Owens Valley. This is my recommendation because the weather here is subject to very high winds. It is also a sight that California visitors should behold. Remote majesty.
MY GRIPE!
The trail maps describe the lifts in old school numbering system. Ask a local for directions and you’ll hear take Chair 1 to Chair 2. On the mountain, the signage uses names to describe the lifts so you will see Broadway to Stump Alley.
Signs point you to trails and lodges but they don’t tell you the lifts that are accessible. Considering the size of the mountain and the need to access certain lifts to get from one section to another, this is really not practical for newbies. Even experienced locals agree.
The resort seems to have opted for naming new lifts and keeping numbers for the old ones. It seems like a marketing effort that is confusing the brand. In my opinion, Mammoth should retain the old numbering because that is, in some ways, part of the character. Instead, it is trying name lifts like other resorts and is caught in between.

This is my Disneyland, hands down, bar none! All of the staff, from parking staff/​bus drivers, lift operators to hosts to ski patrol to groom crew are so professional, attentive, courteous, and friendly! You never disappoint and this is going to be an epic season!
Thank you for always giving me the best getaways… My soul is rejuvenated every time!

What a majestic place to spend a vacation at! In California, skies the limit! I didn’t ski, but would love to go sledding (yup, that is all you’ll get out of me), and of course everyone that knows me, knows I love to hike. Did a little bit of hiking there and was enjoying the views of people skiing and on the lifts.
There’s a lot of parking, lots of resorts to stay at and a couple mini plaza’s to get food, toiletries, sporting goods, etc. The lodges also have gear, rentals and offer food, beer etc.
I only minused a star because some of people there are without manners. I would say rude, but I know that they weren’t schooled by their parents (and judging by those parents actions, they are just clueless to the rest of the world), on manners and being civilized. Yeah… always something petty and lame, but not a big deal. Just be aware you’ll be surrounded by it.
So if your strong willed & want to go at any outdoorsy activities, and flick off the annoying snow flies, have a go at it!!!
Customer service there also seems to be a bit on the sucky side :(

I’m no expert here, but I really like it. This place is huge and has plenty of options for all skill levels. If you’re trying to learn, like I am, having a wider course really helps.

This place is huge! I was fortunate enough to arrive with 2 feet fresh powder. As hard as the last few season have been on us fellow Californians, the fresh powder was much needed.
Food on the mountain can be a bit pricey but I guess that’s expected. The food selection is awesome though. No ice tea that I could find but should be drinking lots of water anyway.
Great resorts near by. Some resorts even have lifts to go up the mountain. At the very least they have shuttles running all day long.
Fun for the whole family!

Mammoth Mountain is where I first learned to snowboard (i.e., rolling down the hill). It’s a great mountain for beginners, intermediate and advance riders. Mammoth has always held a special place in my heart like my first love. Unfortunately, I hate the b*tch. Just kidding. Just kidding about the just kidding.
There are multiple lifts to get you around and the staff is extremely friendly. McCoy is the mid-​mountain rest area and it has a cafeteria and a bar. In my opinion, Mammoth is built more for boarders than skiers. I don’t see many skiers here so you don’t get pretentious skiers like you do in Colorado. I would beat every skiers a$$ IF I could catch them.
The runs are wide and the snow is always soft, so there’s more than enough room to you to share with beginners. I have never waited more than 2 minutes for a lift. The black diamonds and intermediate slopes have a great decline. It wasn’t intimidating for some of the beginners in our crew even though they fell and rolled down the hill. Yes, we took them up to the intermediate and diamond runs cause the only way you’re gonna learn is to try not to fall.
Overall, Mammoth is a great weekend trip and it’s cheap mountain to ride relatively speaking to other winter resorts I’ve visited. It’s definitely one of my favorite places to ride during the winter because there isn’t really a pretentious or bro-​ish vibe at Mammoth. Lastly, the lift scanners could scan through your clothes so you don’t have to consistently pull it out unlike every time I have to go piss. By the way, you should never go swimming with me in the same pool. Just saying.

For as often as I get out to ski, I realized I don’t have any reviews of any of the resorts I’ve enjoyed. I selected Mammoth for a couple significant reasons
Mammoth Mountain part of the Eastern Sierras as one of the highest elevations on the western seaboard. It’s not easy to get there but worth the effort once made. The ski area sits in a little town with almost all the amenities you would need. But about the ski area itself
1) The main lodge porte corchere has a statue of a Mammoth (now extinct) but more than likely roamed the area hundreds of years ago. The porte corchere is heated 365 days out of the year by a natural steam vent; even in the deep of snow; that circle area in the porte corchere will always be clear.
2) The main lodge has 3 chair lifts which would take you to any part of the mountain you choose to ski on; including a part they refer to as the Back Bowl
3) There are eateries at the base lodge, mid lodge top at Cornice and several satellite coffee and water stands through out the mountain.
4) Their ticket process is modernized. no need to worry about scanning your ticket at each lift. Once scanned, they computer remembers you for the rest of the day.
5) Ground transportation provided from various pick up points throughout the town as parking at the main lodge or chair 4 can become (actually, will become) a problem in the peak of the season. Park at the mall and take the shuttle…
My review is on the winter sports of skiing and snow boarding BUT they have mountain biking during the spring and summer. It’s a great year round place for outdoor activities