Winter Sports

Trail Grooming

Inyo National Forest has transferred the management of the winter trail grooming program in partnership with the State of California to the Town of Mammoth Lakes as of January 2025. For the latest on trail grooming, please visit www.mammothwintergrooming.com or call (760) 965-6948

Maps

Our Eastern Sierra Winter Recreation Map is a must-have! Download for free ahead of time on Avenza (Apple Store or Google Play) where you can navigate without cell service.

Rules & Etiquette

LEAVE NO TRACE. Pack out trash.
Yield right of way:
- Snowmobiles yield to all.
- Bikes, snowshoers yield to skiers.
- All users yield to grooming machines.
Stay on the right-hand side.
Slow zone areas are 15 mph.
Leash dogs when in Town of Mammoth Lakes city limits. Remove dog waste on and off trails.
Use caution at night - be visible, use bright lights.
Winter Fat Bikes are allowed on all groomed trails outside ski areas.
E-bikes are not allowed on any non-motorized trails or Nordic Recreation Areas (Shady Rest, Obsidian Dome, Tamarack).
Crossing two-lane plowed roads at right angles is permitted.
Crossing four-lane plowed roads is prohibited unless otherwise posted.
Snowmobiles must display a current state registration sticker and are prohibited from entering designated Wilderness Areas.

Emergency Preparedness

Rockslides and avalanches happen. Check Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center for conditions, learn to mitigate avalanche risk and get proper training.
Safe/proper use of winter gear such as ice axe and/or crampons is a matter of one's own blend of skills, experience and comfort.
Wilderness permits are still required.
Conditions change rapidly depending on weather, time of day. You are responsible for determining if weather and conditions permit safe travel for yourself.

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center (760) 924-5500

Eastern Sierra Visitor Center (760) 876-6200

Skiing/Snowboarding

Inyo National Forest is the home of Mammoth Mountain and June Lake Ski Areas. Mammoth is one of the largest ski resorts in the country with 34 lifts, two gondolas, 150 named trails, and over 5 square miles of terrain.

In the Mammoth Lakes Basin area, the Tamarack Lodge Nordic Center and Mammoth Nordic groom over 24 miles of trails and a skating lane. Try the 7-mile ungroomed Blue Diamond Nordic Routes to really get away from it all! These ski and snowshoe routes were established by the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1980s and have been maintained by the Range of Light Group, Sierra Club, in partnership with the US Forest Service.

For more adventurous skiers and snowboarders, there are thousands of acres of backcountry in the Eastern Sierra.

Other helpful information:

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center and Ranger Station: (760) 924-5500.
Town of Mammoth Lakes Parks and Recreation Department: (760) 934-8989 X222
Backcountry Avalanche Report
- Call (760) 924-7055 for recorded messages of avalanche control closures at June Mountain.
Mammoth Lake Trails Conditions

Sledding/Tubing

Snowmobiling

We maintain approximately 100 miles of groomed trails, leading to approximately 150,000 cres of un-groomed snowmobile play areas in the Mammoth, June, and Mono Lake areas. Trails specifically designated for snowmobiling are marked with orange diamonds and groomed by Inyo National Forest and commercial guide service providers.

Staging areas and access for snowmobiles on Inyo National Forest are included on the Eastern Sierra Winter Recreation Map (PDF) or navigate this map without cell service for free on the Avenza App:

Get the app: Apple Store or Google Play

General Snowmobiling Rules:

Closed areas in the map are indicated in the light orange color, including:
- Devils Postpile National Monument, Wilderness, and Research Natural Areas
- Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain Ski Areas
- All Blue diamond non-motorized trail, including Obsidian Dome
- Deadman Summit and Shady Rest Winter Trails
- Mammoth Lakes Basin, from winter until April 17. After that date, it is open to all users.
- Active timber sales and logging roads.
No riding within designated Wilderness boundaries! Riding in Wilderness is a Federal offense carrying fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail, in addition to possible seizure of the snowmobiles (36 CFR Subpart A, § 261.18 and 261.14)
Yield to skiers, snowshoers or other recreationists who may also be using the same area.
You are allowed to ride off-trail provided there is enough snow.

Inyo National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation

The Inyo National Forest is currently evaluating its management of over snow vehicle (OSV) use to designate system roads, trails and areas where OSV use will be allowed, in compliance with 36 CFR 212, Subpart C. The outcome of this process will yield a new forest-wide OSV plan, and also visitor maps equivalent to the forest's MVUM maps.

Other resources:

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

Recreating in the Eastern Sierra is an experience of unparalleled scenery, serenity, fitness and fun for beginners to experts, thanks to the varied terrain and unrivaled backdrop of the Sierra Nevada landscape. There are over 30 miles of groomed, non-motorized winter trails in and around Mammoth Lakes, providing opportunities to explore the Inyo National Forest on skis, snowshoes, and winter fat bikes. There is a wide variety of terrain for every ability level.

The Mammoth Lakes Blue Diamond Nordic Routes offer 7 miles of un-groomed opportunities marked with blue diamonds attached to trees along the way. These ski and snowshoe routes were established by the US Forest Service in the early 1980s and have been maintained by the Range of Light Group, Sierra Club, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

You can also check the Eastern Sierra Winter Recreation Map to start planning your trip. Orange trails are groomed and open to all users, including snowmobiles. Ski and snowshoe users should use caution and listen for motorized traffic.

Other helpful information:

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center and Ranger Station: (760) 924-5500.
Town of Mammoth Lakes Parks and Recreation Department: (760) 934-8989 X222
Backcountry Avalanch Report
- Call (760) 924-7055 for recorded messages of avalanche control closures at June Mountain.
Mammoth Lake Trails Conditions