Mammoth Lakes Basin
Mammoth Lakes, California
Road
13 miles | 1,200 ft elevation
Located in the Eastern Sierra, this mountain town is best known for its winter skiing, but with several miles of paved bike paths, it’s also a great place for some car-free riding. This route is short but with plenty of vertical gain, and since the majority of the route takes place on paved bike paths, it is almost entirely car-free. The elevation at Mammoth Lakes is 7,800 feet (and the top of the route is at 8,900 feet) so there’s the added element of altitude that makes this ride a bit more challenging.
From The Village at Mammoth, take a right onto the Lakes Basin Bike Path, which runs parallel to Lake Mary Road. You will immediately begin climbing for the next few miles with views of the mountains in front of you and valley down below to your left. After 2.5 miles, you will pass through a tunnel taking you to the other side of Lake Mary Road and around mile 3 you will enter the Twin Lakes Campground. It can be a bit confusing as you ride through the campsites, but soon you will pick up the bike path again, looping you back up along Lake Mary Road.
About 4.5 miles in, you will finally get a reprieve from climbing as you continue down the bike path, passing Lake Mary and Mamie Lake until you reach Horseshoe Lake. The bike path ends here, so take a moment to enjoy the view of the lake. Take the trail back the way you came and after about a mile, take a right towards Around Lake Mary Road and enjoy the pleasant 1.5-mile loop around Lake Mary (this loop is on the road with cars). At the end of the loop, jump back on the Lakes Basin Bike Path and head all the way back to The Village.
Strava Route:
Hotel Recommendation
The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth - this property is located directly across from The Village at Mammoth and the rooms come equipped with a kitchenette, including microwave, mini-fridge and kitchen supplies. Their heated pool and two large hot tubs make for the perfect place to relax after a ride. The restaurant on-site has a good breakfast (which may not be included in your room rate) and there are plenty of places to eat within walking distance. Most importantly, this property allows bikes in the rooms. There are a number of properties that do not allow bikes (or skis) into the rooms, so if you choose another place to stay, I recommend you call to confirm that bikes are allowed.
Note: there is on-going construction nearby, scheduled to open in winter of 2024, so you may want to take that into consideration if noise is a concern.
cyclingjenny.com aims to provide content that is true and accurate as of the date of writing; however, the accuracy and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. cyclingjenny.com and its associates are in no way liable for personal injury, loss or damage to personal property, or any other such situation that should occur to individuals following the guides, routes and recommendations. Please review the full Terms & Disclaimer.