Mammoth Mountain Resort guide for families

With its seemingly endless California sunshine and copious amounts of snow, Mammoth Lakes delivers a spectacular family ski holiday.

Mammoth Mountain is big on terrain, big on height, big on sunshine and huge on family fun. You’ll find it in  Mammoth Lakes, in California’s Eastern Sierras.

Mammoth is California’s highest ski resort, with a base elevation of 2,424 metres and reaching a whopping 3,369 metres at the summit. The resort receives abundant snowfall each year and the high altitude ensures light, fluffy snow and great conditions for families. Mammoth Mountain has wide-open beginner and intermediate slopes and steep bowls for advanced skiers and riders.

Mammoth Mountain has a host of great experiences for kids. There’s childcare and kids lessons, family fun at Woolly’s Tube and Snow Play Park, as well as kid-friendly menus.

Mammoth Mountain Resort stats

Boasting the highest lift-served summit in California at 3,369 metres, skiers and snowboarders have a massive 1,416 hectares of terrain to play in.

28 lifts provide access to 150 named runs. The terrain is diverse and plentiful so the family will never get bored.

And, with 300 days of that California sunshine, chances are you’ll get great visibility complemented by jaw-dropping views. Another big plus? The season is longer, running from November to June, so you can take your family in the Christmas holidays, or go over Easter. Or better yet, visit for both.

Skiable area
1,416 hectares

Lifts
28

Terrain parks
9

Runs
150

3 years
Minimum age for ski lessons

3 years
Minimum age for snowboard lessons

Child minding for infants

Grading of runs
Beginner: 20%
Intermediate: 54%
Advanced: 26%

Summit height
3,369 metres

Length of season
November to April

Average snowfall
16 metres

Ski-in/Ski-out

Keep reading:
5 reasons to take the kids to Mammoth Mountain
We visit Mammoth Mountain with kids aged 10 and 12

For beginners to advanced skiiers

Families usually have skiers and riders of varying abilities and Mammoth caters beautifully to all of them.

One of the cooler things about Mammoth Mountain is there are runs for just about every ability from the very top. Jump in the Panorama gondola at Main Lodge and enjoy the eight-minute ride to the Top of the Sierra – the highest point in the state. From here you can look down into Yosemite National Park, out over the resort and get that family Instagram shot at the Mammoth Mountain sign. Beginner and intermediates can then make their way down the gentle Road Runner trail, while the speed junkies can try their luck screaming down Climax, Cornice, or the Paranoid Chutes

Families exploring Mammoth Mountain

The terrain offered is vast and your family will have so much fun zipping here and there, crisscrossing the mountain and ticking off as many of the 175 named trails as you can. Started your day by heading up the Village Gondola to link up with the Canyon Express to get up the mountain, then head for all corners – from Cloud 9 to the Outpost and everything in between. Stop for food and drinks at either The Mill, the Eleven53 Café at the Top of the Sierra or McCoy Station, which now has a cool Coca Cola Lounge, where you can create your own favourite drink with a Coca-Cola freestyle machine.

Terrian parks

Mammoth Mountain has 5 terrain parks for kids who love nothing more than riding rails, getting air and doing tricks. Mammoth’s Unbound Terrain Parks are famous, offering two halfpipes, 100 plus jibs and up to 50 jumps on any given day. Mammoth is the official training base for the US Olympic free ski and snowboard teams and is where Chloe Kim, who won her second successive gold medal in the snowboard halfpipe in Beijing, and the legend Shaun White honed their skills.

What do to when not wearing skis

Winter in Mammoth Lakes inspires adventure at every turn. Try your luck at cross-country skiing on Nordic trails at Lakes Basin, snowmobiling, sledding, snowball fights, snow biking or go snowshoeing through the magical snowy landscape.

Post-ski adventures in town range from ten pin bowling, browsing through the shops of The Village at Mammoth, practising your pirouette on the ice-skating rink, or toasting some tasty, marshmallowy s’mores around the fireplace.

There are so many ways for everyone to enjoy this spectacular, snowy winter wonderland.

Woolly’s Tube Park

Another must-do activity is tubing at Woolly’s Tube Park. There are six lanes, and it is so much fun to race your siblings or parents on these super-fast tubes. Kids need to be taller than 1.06 metres to be able to ride a tube, but smaller children won’t miss out as there is a fantastic snow play area just for them.

If you are really lucky, you might be able to visit Bodie State Historic Park, a real ghost town with houses and businesses with furniture and merchandise still inside. It was once a booming mining town with a population of 10,000, but it was a harsh and torrid life, with many ending up in the cemetery up the hill. It might not be just the cold of winter sending those shivers up the spine.

Wild Willy’s Hot Spring

Back in Mammoth, warm up and chill out at Wild Willy’s Hot Spring, one of 100 hot springs out on the valley floor. Access is via a scenic boardwalk, and you can sit and soak in the beautiful warm pool while taking in the view over the surrounding mountain ranges. Bliss!

On-mountain family activities

Woolly’s Tube Park

Scenic gondola rides

Skiing

Snowboarding

Off-mountain family activities

Snowmobile adventures

Snowcat tours

Mountain and naturalist tours

Cross-country skiing

Intro to touring

Summer activities

Biking

Hiking

Fishing

Boating, kayaking & paddle boarding

Camping

Golf

Swimming

Climbing

Kids ski school

Beginners – whether kids or parents – are well looked after at the Mammoth Ski and Snowboard School – there is one at each base lodge, Main, Canyon and Eagle.

Kids can start ski or snowboard lessons from age three. Tiny tots of three to four-year-olds enjoy small group two-hour lessons in the morning or the afternoon or choose a lesson and childcare package that will allow the kids to progress at their own pace and around sleep times.

There are group lessons for kids aged five to seven, and eight to 14, as well as private lessons, beginner adult lessons, intermediate and advanced clinics. There are also adaptive skiing and snowboarding lessons for kids and adults with disabilities.

There’s nothing more fun than ripping down a run with style to spare. Whether it’s your family’s first day on the slopes or you’re looking to take your skills to new heights, you’ll be turning heads before you know it with lessons from our top-notch ski and snowboard instructors – some of the best in the nation. Lessons also serve as a great social gathering as you explore the mountain with other students of your same pace and ability.

Accommodation

Mammoth Lakes offers a range of properties suitable for families including The Westin Monache, Village Lodge and Tamarack Lodge, Juniper Springs Resort, Mammoth Mountain Inn, as well as luxury homes through Mammoth Lodging Collection.

The Mammoth Lodging Collection offers a wide selection of rooms, cabins, and condos in town.

Mammoth Mountain Inn

For over half a century, Mammoth’s classic slopeside hotel has provided stunning mountain views and ski-in, ski-out convenience to families and powder hounds alike.

The Village Lodge

Located in the heart of The Village just steps away from the best shopping, dining, and entertainment in town, The Village Lodge is Mammoth’s most popular all-access hotel.

Juniper Springs Resort

Nestled at the base of Mammoth Mountain, Juniper Springs Resort also offers convenient ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes, ski school, and all the amenities of the Eagle base lodge

Tamarack Lodge

With world-class cross country skiing and snowshoeing right outside your door, Tamarack Lodge provides the perfect mix of rustic charm and convenience.

The Westin Monache

This full-service luxury hotel is just steps away from the Village Gondola offering quick access to the ski slopes Mid-December through mid-April, as well as in close proximity to The Village’s many restaurants, shops and nightlife options. After a day of adventures in the High Sierra, sit down to fine dining at the Whitebark Restaurant & Lounge or enjoy your meals fireside in the privacy of your suite.

Where to find Mammoth Mountain

Getting there Fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Denver on United into Bishop’s Eastern Sierra Airport (BIH) or book a scheduled charter flight with Advanced Air from Carlsbad, Burbank or Hawthorne into Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH). If you want to drive, it’s five hours from Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

Mammoth Lake Tourism
California, USA

Phone: 1 888-GO MAMMOTH (1 888 466 2666)
Email: info@visitmammoth.com
Website: www.visitmammoth.com

All images © Mammoth Lakes Tourism