MammothMammoth Lakes, California

Resort Description

There’s not much to say about Mammoth Mountain Resort that hasn’t been said before: 3,100 vertical feet of steep faces, open bowls, and diverse tree-skiing with some world-class terrain parks sprinkled in for good measure. Nestled high in the Sierras, Mammoth is five hours from Los Angeles, but feels worlds apart, a true mountain experience in the heart of the Golden State.

Mammoth is a perennial park juggernaut, usually featuring nine parks in addition to its two halfpipes. The resort has hosted Grand Prix and World Cup events for snowboarding and freeskiing, as well as the Unbound Series and Volcom PB & Rail Jam. It’s a frequent venue for Snowboarder Magazine’s Superpark. In 2012, Mammoth unveiled two new park additions: Unbound Playground beginner’s park and the urban inspired Downtown Collection park.

The Panorama Gondola drops skiers and boarders at the Top of the Sierra with uninterrupted views on any of Mammoth’s 300 annual days of sunshine. From the top access some steep turns on Climax or nearby Cornice Bowl, or earn them on Huevos Grande. When storms close the upper mountain, check out Avalanche Chutes and Rodger’s Ridge.

Staying the night at Mammoth is easy with cheap options like the Alpenhof Lodge or the Austria Hof, or stay on the hill at the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Shogun is a local’s favorite for sushi located in nearby Mammoth Lakes and Burgers Restaurant has been serving up noteworthy burgers and shakes since 1972. Also watch out for the Roving Mammoth cats. New last year, these snocats serve up burritos and calzones all over the hill. For summer activities, Mammoth is a primo destination for mountain biking, fishing, and, in surrounding areas, camping.