Snowboarding Zone - Mammoth and June, California
Riders Guide - They don't call it Mammoth for nothing, as this is one of the continent's largest ski resorts and one of the highest at over 11,000 feet at base. Mammoth gets around 400 inches per year, and has 29 lifts including 9 high speed quads that can handle 50,000 people an hour. It boasts an amazing 150 trails, and a longest run of 15,840 feet (3+ miles). The runs are rated 25% for beginner, 40% intermediate, 20% advanced and best of all, 15% expert. Located about a half hour away from Mammoth Mountain Resorts and 20 miles from Mammoth Lakes, is June Mountain which gets 250 inches per year, has 7 lifts including a high speed quad, 35 trails, and a longest run of 10,560 feet. The runs are rated 30% for beginner, 45% intermediate and 20% advanced.
Parks and Pipes – Mammoth is maybe best known for its amazing terrain parks, with more than seven along with three massive superpipes, this resort is a rider and freestyle skiers dream. Mammoth Unbound Park spreads over 90 acres and features a gargantuan, Olympic-sized Super-Duper Pipe with 22-foot tall walls, 62 feet wide and 500+ feet long. Mammoth Mountain is one of only a handful of resorts in the world to offer a halfpipe of that size. The resort sports several beginner parks, Disco Park and Wonderland Park. Intermediate terrain is found at Forest Trail Park, Jibs Galore and South Park. The hardest terrain and burliest features are found at the Main Park. The JM2UNBOUND Specialty Park at June Mountain features over 60 acres of park terrain and an in ground Superpipe plus dozens of boxes and rails and a snowskate park.
Out of Bounds - Rent a snowmobile from Mammoth Polaris, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures or DJs Snowmobile Adventures and enjoy 300 miles of snowmobile trails. Contact Sledz for bobsledding or tubing down a designated track. Dog Sled Adventures lets you take the reins and drive a dog sled. There is also tubing, ice skating, cross country, snowshoeing or go on a snowcat snowboard adventure.
Hangout & Hookup - Mammoth is the place for some really hot après-ski action in places like Sherwin's at Sierra Meadows Ranch, and Mammoth Mountain Inn's Dry Creek Bar that both feature live entertainment most weekends, also check out the action across the parking lot from the Main Lodge at the Yodeler. Grizzly's Outdoor Bar and BBQ is great if you can't get enough fresh air. Other popular après-ski hangouts include Roberto's Upstairs Bar, Grumpy's, Clock Tower Cellar at the Alpenhof Lodge, Lakanuki Tiki Bar, and Dublin's and Hennessey’s for extensive Irish whiskey selections.
The Deal - The nearest major airport is Reno-Tahoe but it's over 165 miles away. Mammoth Lakes Airport is fairly small, and only gets flights in from neighboring major airports. By car, access from all directions via the scenic north-to-south US Hwy 395, running along the eastern edge of California's Sierra Nevada Range, it’s a stunning drive and well worth the time. There are also a variety of shuttle services available from major cities and access routes that can be found on Mammoth’s website.
