Love Pedaling? These Are The Best Mountain Bike Rides in Mammoth Lakes, California

You’ve probably heard of Mammoth Lakes for its legendary high-alpine resort skiing and massive snow totals—not its mountain bike trails. But the town is also home to one of the oldest bike parks in the country, with over 80 miles of lift-accessed trails with over 3,000 feet of vertical drop. And even so, few people know about Mammoth’s incredible pedal-access trail network, which you can access from anywhere in town. Fall is an excellent time to ride the town trails, with cool temperatures, colorful foliage, and no crowds. Want the lowdown on Mammoth’s best pedaling? We break it down below.

The Nuts and Bolts

There are several free mountain bike trails in town, which are typically snow-free between the months of May and November. Town also features a good number of excellent, pedal-access trails located within the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park, many of which can easily be linked with the public trails in town for longer rides. Note that trails located in the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park require a pedal pass (valid all season) or a bike park day pass when the bike park is open, which you can purchase here. The park is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, from June to September, and during this time, many trails are downhill only. Two-way trails are clearly marked during the bike park’s operating season.

If you enjoy the trails in town, consider joining or donating to SEMBA, the Sierra Eastside Mountain Bike Association, which cares for popular local trails like Mountain View.

The Best Mountain Bike Rides in Mammoth

Best Early Season Ride: Sherwin Meadows Trails

• All of the trails in the Sherwin Meadows are free to the public, making this area an excellent zone for mountain bikers who don’t want to buy a pedal pass or bike park day pass.
• This zone melts out sooner than most of the higher-elevation trails in the bike park. In recent years, the Sherwin Meadows have seen impressive trail development, offering plenty of pedaling for the cross-country enthusiast. Trails here are cross-country, with some techy, rock garden sections. Most trails in this zone meander through the sagebrush, over small hills.
• To ride, park at Sherwin Meadows trailhead. Start with the Mammoth Rock Trail (you can pedal out and back, or ride up Old Mammoth Road and down the trail), then explore the meadow trails. The Rock Trail is one of the most scenic trails in Mammoth, with incredible views of the White Mountains. Ridge Rambler, a new cross-country trail, is quickly becoming a local favorite and connects easily to the Rock Trail.

Best Flow Trail Ride: Uptown, Beach Cruiser, Mountain View

If you’re looking for a big, cruisy climb and lots of downhill flow, this is the ride for you. Expect shady, well-graded trails with limited obstacles and great flow.

• To ride, park near the Village, or pedal from town. To start, you’ll enter the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park via Uptown (an uphill-only trail). The first section of Uptown, starting at the Village, is free and open to the public, while the upper section is maintained by the bike park (and requires a pedal pass to ride during open hours). Ride Uptown all the way up to Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge, and then hop on Beach Cruiser in the direction indicated on TrailForks. From there, take the Minaret Summit Connector until you hit Highway 203, cross the road, and ride the Mountain View Trail all the way back to Highway 203. From there, cross the highway and ride Downtown all the way back to the Village.

Option to Stay on Public Trails: If you prefer not to enter the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park during this ride, you can opt to ride the lower part of Uptown from the Village to the bike park boundary, and then ride Mountain View to Minaret Vista as an out-and-back. If you do this, there’s no need to purchase a pedal pass or bike park day pass—both lower Uptown and Mountain View are free to use.

Best Moderate Tech Ride: Big Ring, Paper Route, Juniper

This is my favorite after-work cross-country ride. It features pleasant climbing, interesting tech, and good flow.

• To ride, park at Canyon Lodge and ride up Big Ring (note that this is a two-way trail and is located within the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park). The trail is generally a very pleasant climb, and most of it is well shaded, with some exposed sections (although it is a bit steeper than Uptown). Take this trail to its intersection with Paper Route, a rolling cross-country trail that cuts across the middle of the mountain. Take a left, and then ride this trail until you hit Juniper (there’s a sign on the tree), and ride it all the way down to Eagle Lodge. You’ll find paver berms, rock gardens, and fun tech on your way down. From Eagle Lodge, you’ll ride the road back up to Canyon Lodge.
• For a longer ride, consider starting at the Village and riding up Uptown to Paper Route instead.

Inspired to Pedal? Get Out There

High-altitude scenery, easy access from town, and miles of trails make Mammoth an incredible place to pedal. For more information on local trails, explore the riding on TrailForks, and note that all of the routes listed above can be combined for a longer ride around town. Be sure to stop at Distant Brewery for a beverage after your ride—happy trails.