Mammoth Bike Park is one in all my all-time favorite areas to journey. The views, the infinite trails, and the “kitty litter” pumice all make it a novel experience.
I may be biased on account of the Jap Sierra of Califonia was dwelling to me for quite a lot of years, nevertheless the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is no doubt probably the most stunning areas I’ve ever ridden. Merely wait until you get to the very best of the gondola – the views of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and the Owen’s Valley are excellent! Merely scripting this makes me actually really feel nostalgic.
The terrain at Mammoth Mountain is great distinctive, too. Mammoth’s “kitty litter” pumice offers up a definite drawback than most bike parks (assume sand-dune looking on a bike). And the 80+ mile neighborhood of trails covers each factor from mellow descents to gnarly rock gardens to fast transfer.
What’s way more cool about Mammoth is that the bike park trails associated into dozens further miles of singletrack, so you might’t truly ever get bored. It’s even potential to do a 2-hour descent from Mammoth’s summit once more proper right down to metropolis!
I really feel Mammoth Bike Park must be on every rider’s bike-it itemizing on account of it’s so distinctive and beautiful. Proper right here’s each factor it’s advisable to search out out about planning your go to.
New to Mammoth Bike Park? Receive my “Cheat Sheet” that can enable you navigate your first few runs!
What to know sooner than you go
1. Brace your self for Kitty Litter
The biggest issue that items Mammoth other than totally different bike parks I’ve visited is the kitty litter pumice. A lot of the trails proper right here aren’t filth (although you can uncover that). In its place, you’re driving on free, shape-shifting, drifts of lava pumice. In case you assume you’ve ridden free sooner than, be prepared for a whole nother stage of looseness. Personally, I really feel it’s great fulfilling, nevertheless it is an acquired model…
My best tip for you is to aim to relax and embrace the squirreliness. Preserve over the doorway of the bike and don’t let your weight get throughout the once more seat. You want to administration over that entrance wheel! Good luck 🙂
2. Mammoth isn’t recognized for bike park ‘choices’
In case you’re heading to Mammoth Bike Park and anticipating cool choices and dialed soar traces, you’re going to be pretty dissatisfied. Mammoth is certainly further of an old-school bike park with pure choices and hand-cut path. I’d say 80% of the park is like this.
The other 20% does have some cool stuff, though. In case you’re looking out for ‘bike park-y’ points check out: Simple Operator, Pipeline, Twilight Zone, and… that’s about it.
3. Get off the crushed path trails
Even if Mammoth is so massive, it’s simple to get sucked into doing the equivalent trails run after run on the frontside of the mountain. Numerous visitors to Mammoth don’t even perceive there’s an entire totally different part of the park on the underside, which includes the paths Juniper, Paper Route, Timber Ridge, and a few further.
Seize a map everytime you purchase your tickets and use it! Notably if it’s a busy weekend, it’s good to find the a lot much less commonplace areas of the park.
4. The Gondola isn’t the one methodology to the very best
I’m uncertain quite a few riders perceive this, nevertheless there are 3 chairlifts and a bus shuttle in addition to to the gondola that goes all one of the best ways to the very best of the mountain! If the gondola traces are prolonged (and they also do get prolonged…) go take some laps from one in all many various chairs. (See further in regards to the elevate selections beneath).
5. Mid-mountain is an excellent place to start, too
I on a regular basis like to do quite a lot of runs from the very best of Mammoth, nevertheless there are literally solely two strategies down from the very best. Off The Prime will get earlier after quite a lot of runs and I can solely take one descent down Skidmarks per day on the park (journey it and likewise you’ll see what I suggest).
Nevertheless, the good news is you possibly can get off the gondola at mid-station and actually have further path selections that you just do from the very best.
6. You’ll be at 11,053 toes
So the gasping is form of common. The summit of Mammoth Mountain is definitely that high. Though you’ll be driving downhill, assured you’ll nonetheless actually really feel it! Give your self some time to manage and presumably drink a further glass of water sooner than these post-ride beers.
7. The very best couldn’t open until July
Counting on snowpack, the very best of Mammoth Mountain Bike Park might not open until mid-summer. There have been undoubtedly years after I lived in Bishop that the gondola didn’t run to the summit until the first or second week of July. The reality is, I bear in mind one 12 months they nonetheless had snowboarding (and mountain biking!) on the Fourth of July!
Nevertheless that doesn’t suggest the bike park is open. Keep in mind there are THREE chairlifts and a bus shuttle and the gondola shall be working to mid-mountain. There’s nonetheless loads to journey if the very best of the mountain isn’t open.
8. Lifts shut for Thunder & Lightening
If it seems want it’s going to be stormy, you might want to change your plans. The lifts do shut with any sightings of lightning. Mammoth can really get some pretty intense summer time season thunderstorms. The lifts will open if there hasn’t been any lightning for half-hour, however when it’s close to closing time, they’ll merely shut the lifts down for the day.
9. Don’t carry your downhill bike
One in every of many best rude awakenings for first-time visitors to Mammoth bike park is… there’s pedaling! What!? I do know… nevertheless anticipate to work a little bit of bit, significantly in case you uncover the a lot much less commonplace trails on the underside of the mountain.
There are traverse trails, flat trails, and (gasp) even some small uphills.
10. Summer time season smoke is an element…
Sadly, fireside season is a think about California now and Mammoth does get some pretty harmful smoke if there’s a wildfire burning. There’s unlikely one thing you’ll be able to do about it, however when the air prime quality is particularly harmful, don’t go exterior to ride- your lungs will thanks.
11. E-bikes are allowed
Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is no doubt one of many few areas you might journey an e-bike in California! You might be questioning “Why do I would love an e-bike at a lift-served bike park?” nevertheless in case you be taught tip #9 you’ll recall that there is some pedaling required at Mammoth. Is an e-bike wanted? No, however when it’s the one bike you might need, carry it alongside.
12. Check out further good trails spherical metropolis
Lastly, the paths throughout the bike park aren’t the one trails in Mammoth. Faraway from it! There are actually pretty quite a lot of good bike trails in and spherical metropolis. Check out my submit on the best Mammoth Lakes bike trails for further driving exterior the park.
The construction of Mammoth Bike Park
Alright, now that you just perceive what to anticipate at Mammoth Mountain, let’s dive into quite a lot of the stats and the way in which to get spherical.
Quick Stats
Most visitors to Mammoth don’t really perceive how massive Mammoth is. There are over 80 miles of path contained within the park and additional miles of path that riders can join with exterior the park boundaries. You may very well do a 2-hour descent from the very best of the mountain proper right down to the village of Mammoth.
Take some time to take a look on the map should you want to uncover all of Mammoth. Most people merely stick to the front-side trails, nevertheless there’s loads further fulfilling obtainable throughout the lesser-known areas.
The lifts
This map reveals the place the gondola and the three chairlifts are along with the place the shuttle bus picks up and drops off.
Mammoth Bike Park has 4 lifts and one bus shuttle. Some lifts solely perform on the weekends and the bus shuttle is often the one alternative early throughout the season.
1. The Panorama Gondola from Necessary Lodge takes you all one of the best ways as a lot because the summit of Mammoth Mountain or you might stop midway at McCoy Mid-station.
2. Chair 16 (Canyon Particular) from Canyon Lodge accesses the jap slope of the mountain. Not many people journey this elevate!
3. Chair 2 (Stump Alley Particular) from The Mill primarily brings you solely a bit larger than McCoy Station however as well as offers you entry once more all through the mountain by means of Gravy Apply and Bearing Straights (two pedaly trails).
4. Chair 11 (Discovery Chair) from Necessary Lodge. This fast elevate is sweet for households and beginner riders. It accesses quite a lot of intro-level trails.
Together with the lifts, there’s moreover a bike shuttle from the Village that runs every quarter-hour. The pick-up is appropriate all through from the Westin and it takes you all one of the best ways as a lot because the Gondola or you’ll get off at Chair 2.
*Chair 16 and Chair 2 are often sometimes solely open on the weekends.
**Bike park season usually begins with merely the bus shuttle that allows entry to the lower trails like Shotgun and Downtown.
Discovering your methodology spherical
I’m not going to lie, Mammoth Mountain is a bit overwhelming the first time you journey it. There are just so many trails and it might be exhausting to navigate in case you’ve in no way been there sooner than.
Listed beneath are quite a lot of options in your first go to:
New to bike parks? Check out my Bike Parks 101 Info.
Sources for planning your go to
Tickets & Passes
Increase tickets might be purchased on-line or in particular person at each the Mountain Center throughout the Village or on the Journey Center adjoining to the Gondola on the bottom of the bike park. Listed beneath are quite a lot of good-to-know’s when purchasing for tickets:
Bike retailers & Leases
Surprisingly, Mammoth doesn’t have many bike retailers, nevertheless they do have one good one: Footloose Sports activities actions. It’s positioned down throughout the Village, nevertheless they’ve a terrific assortment of mountain bike leases along with a full-service bike retailer.
Mammoth Mountain moreover has two bike rental amenities. One throughout the Village correct in entrance of the shuttle stop and one on the Journey Center on the bottom of the gondola. You might choose from a full fleet of Trek rental bikes along with e-bikes. It is also potential to affix courses at Mammoth Mountain Center.
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Buying for a full face helmet?
Defend your face and pearly whites. As soon as I’m on the bike park, I on a regular basis placed on a full face helmet. Not solely does it give me further peace of ideas after I’m bombing downhill, nevertheless I moreover know that it’s going to do way more to protect my head and face throughout the event of a crash.
My favorite full face helmet is the Smith Mainline. It’s comfortable to placed on, has first fee air movement, and is downhill-certified which suggests it has been examined for safety.
This helmet moreover comes with three completely totally different cheek pad sizes, so you’ll get a comfortable match.
The place to stay
Visiting for the weekend or want to preserve for the complete week? Mammoth Lakes is a vacationer metropolis, so that you might need quite a lot of selections on the place to stay.
Tenting
There are numerous good tenting options spherical Mammoth Lakes:
- Camp Extreme Sierra: a family-friendly campground with tent/RV web sites along with cabins. Conveniently positioned inside simple pedaling distance to the Village bike shuttle. Take Juniper path as your remaining run to return straight to camp.
- Shady Rest Campground: Located close to downtown. It could be a pedal to the bike park, nevertheless there is a free shuttle.
- Lake Mary Basin: these are a cluster of normal campgrounds positioned throughout the pretty Lake Mary Basin. Cruise down the Lake Mary Avenue bike path to satisfy the village bike shuttle then take the free Lakes Basin Trolley once more up the hill on the end of the day.
Motels & leases
For a small metropolis, there are some good resorts and a great deal of journey leases. Be forewarned, though, it’s not low-cost! Listed beneath are quite a lot of mountain biker-friendly areas to stay in Mammoth Lakes:
- The Westin: undoubtedly a splurge, nevertheless it’s positioned correct throughout the village and you might roll your bike to the bus shuttle.
- Outbound Mammoth: Located in town, this lodge is quite a lot of miles from the Bike Park, nevertheless there’s a free shuttle you possibly can take your bike on. It’s great cute and all the rooms are on the underside stage, so no lugging your bike up stairs. It moreover has a crepe meals truck on web site!
- Journey Leases: Mammoth Lakes has no shortage of journey leases. Numerous them are condos and residences, nevertheless you can also uncover some properties that sleep 6 or further people.
good areas to eat
Mammoth Lakes has some pretty first fee areas to grab one factor to eat and drink post-ride. Listed beneath are quite a lot of of my favorites:
- Mammoth Tavern – A cushty tavern positioned on Earlier Mammoth Avenue away from the bustle of the village. Good glad hour from 4-5:30
- Mammoth Brewing Agency – Mammoth’s private native brewery with quite a lot of residence beers on faucet and a terrific exterior seating area. The meals may also be delish. Undoubtedly get the waffle fries. This place will get truly busy.
- Distant Brewing – One different native brewery that serves good sandwiches and totally different bar meals.
- Stellar Brew – A cool place to grab espresso and sandwiches to go
- Burgers Restaurant – Desire a burger after a full day on the bike park? Burgers Restaurant is the place it’s advisable to go. Their buffalo burger is so good
- The Latin Market – Tucked away behind a little bit of Mexican grocery retailer, that’s the place to get a burrito. It’s a hidden gem
- Elixer Superfood and Juice – Just a bit little little bit of LA in Mammoth Lakes. Pricey, nevertheless delicious smoothies and great healthful salads and grain bowls made to order
- Cafe Crepe – a meals truck serving delicious sweet and savory crepes
Getting spherical metropolis
Mammoth Lakes is a small metropolis and it’s pretty simple to get spherical. That being talked about, there are two parts of metropolis:
- The Village the place the bike park is
- Downtown the place lots of the consuming locations and resorts are
There is a bike path that connects metropolis and the Village or there are moreover free trolleys that run all by Mammoth and have bike racks.
FAQs & Info
Q: When does Mammoth Bike Park open?
That may rely upon the snowpack yearly, nevertheless often they try and have a minimum of the shuttle bus working by Memorial Day weekend in Would possibly. Usually, though, the very best of the mountain obtained’t open until July.
Q: When does Mammoth Bike Park shut for the season?
As soon as extra, that can rely upon what the local weather does, nevertheless Labor Day in September is often the closing weekend.
Q: Is Mammoth Bike Park beginner-friendly?
Certain! It’s really one in all many further beginner-friendly bike parks I’ve been to. There’s the Discovery Chair that accesses some fast, simple runs along with Downtown, a nice transfer path, and Off The Prime, which is a little bit of step up nevertheless nonetheless doable for youngsters and newer riders.
Q: What variety of days do I would love at Mammoth Bike Park?
I’d say give your self a minimum of 2 or 3 days to find Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. It’s an infinite park and there’s quite a few ground to cowl.
I’ll even say, though, that it’s not like totally different parks the place you might spend lap after lap working in your leaping talents. It’s merely not the park for that kind of driving.
Q: What are the perfect trails at Mammoth Mountain?
There are moderately loads! Off The Prime is a ought to and Shotgun could be my normal favorite.
Q: Can I pedal with out purchasing for a ticket?
Technically, no. They do have people out on the paths that really confirm whether or not or not you might need a ticket or not. That being talked about, should you want to journey after hours (the lifts shut at 5 and the shuttle stops at 6), no person goes to stop you.
Watch PinkBike’s Jason Lucas shred Mammoth Bike Park
Final concepts
Whereas Mammoth Mountain Bike Park isn’t your typical bike park with machine-built trails and tons of bike park choices, it stays one in all my all-time favorite bike parks. The epic views, ‘kitty litter’ pumice, and large neighborhood of trails are only some causes to plan a go to to this Jap Sierra gem. I really feel you’ll adore it, too!
Study subsequent
Avenue-tripping spherical California? Listed beneath are quite a lot of further fulfilling CA bike adventures in order so as to add to your bike-it itemizing:
Have you ever ever ridden on the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park? What do you contemplate the ‘kitty litter’ and what’s your favorite path? What questions do you proceed to have? Go away a comment beneath! And don’t overlook to acquire my Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Cheat Sheet!
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The views at Mammoth Bike Park sound amazing. I appreciate the detailed tips for new riders, especially about the terrain.
I’ve never been to Mammoth, but it seems like a unique experience. The ‘kitty litter’ pumice definitely caught my attention.
It’s interesting to hear that the park has both mellow and challenging trails. It seems like there’s something for everyone.
‘Old-school bike park with pure choices’ sounds appealing. I would love to explore the lesser-known trails mentioned in the article.
Thanks for sharing these insights! I appreciate the advice on navigating Mammoth and the tips about lift options.