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MAMMOTH CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

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There are three commercial X-Country ski centers in the Mammoth Lakes area.

• Tamarack Lodge operates a large area in the Lakes Basin offering groomed trails, rentals, instruction, and food/lodging facilities.
• Sierra Meadows X-Country ski center operates in the Sierra Meadows area offering groomed track, rentals, instruction, and food facilities.
• Rock Creek Lodge in Rock Creek operates a unique ski-in ski-out lodge/ski facility.
• In addition, the town of Mammoth Lakes has marked out a series of ski trails generally following some of the summer bike trails, offering free skiing on ungroomed trail. There is almost always someone else who gets up earlier than you so rarely do you not have a broken trail to follow on the town trails. If you want to break your own trail, there is about a zillion square miles of forest around town, some steep, some flat, all snow covered. Choose your place.

Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center.
30 kilometers of groomed track and skating lanes. Rentals, lodging, and instruction. Meals available. Fee required to use groomed trails in the Lakes Basin. Because of it's high elevation (over 8,000 ft) Tamarack is guaranteed a long season with good snow conditions, even when spring has come elsewhere. There is a great lodge at the center, where you can , lean your skiis outside your door, and take off on the trails whenever you want to. Check out the Tamarack site for complete information.

Rock Creek Lodge
At the threshold of the John Muir Wilderness, Rock Creek Lodge offers a unique winter backcountry experience for beginning and advanced cross-country skiers alike. The wood stoves in our recently insulated cabins will keep you cozy morning and night. Seven cabins offer running water and bathrooms, while six cabins remain rustic, with guests using the central shower building for restroom facilities. Our fantastic, hearty meals -- breakfast and dinner served family style in the dining room -- satisfy even the biggest mountain appetites.


Sierra Meadows Ski Touring Center
25 kilometers of groomed track. Rentals and instruction available.

Trails around town
The town of Mammoth has established a great system of marked trails in and around the town area. Almost always someone else has been there ahead of you, so trail has been broken and well defined. None of the trails wander very far from town, so they are better bets for the inexperienced or timid back country user. None are steep or difficult. Many of these trails begin at the USFS visitors center, and use the forested areas in that area. These are particularly popular trails when the weather is wailing. The wind and snow isn't as nasty as it can be up in the Lakes basin during a storm.

Inyo Craters Trail
8 km round trip, moderate/easy. There has been more snowmobile activity in this area in recent years, which can ruin the experience, but this is a classic easy Mammoth ski tour. Relatively flat, well used so you won't be all alone, with a good destination. Take the Scenic Loop road out of town for 3.5 miles until you see the Inyo Craters sign. There will usually be cars parked here, so park here and go.

Back Country Skiing
We are surrounded by miles and miles of National Forest. Of course we have back-country ski opportunities. In fact, some of the best places in the world are around here. If your tastes run to cruising and touring, start out in the Lakes Basin. You can legally ski up Lake Mary Road using the right hand side of the road (stay off Tamarack's groomed trails or you will have to pay a trail fee). Then branch out and explore the region. Unless you choose to go up something really steep, you won't have to come down something really steep.

On the other hand, if you want really steep...check out the Sherwins. Lots of chutes and very steep stuff. Very popular area with the telemark/randonee crowd. You will often even see people dragging their downhill equipment up here. Get there by going up Lake Mary Road, staying off the groomed trails, and stay to the left following other tracks up the ridgeline onto the Sherwins. Follow the ridge as far as you want, watching for good downhill runs. There are also lots of steep skiable slopes higher up the Lakes Basin. Talk to the Tamarack ski center personal for advice, or check around town. for information.

Obviously the back country can be a dangerous place. If you don't know what you are doing it may hurt you. The eastern Sierra has it's share of avalanches and bad winter weather. So go prepared. Let someone know where you are going. The Mammoth/June Lakes Search and Rescue team is often very active in this area rescuing fools.