If you're basing out of Mammoth Lakes this summer, you may be considering a day trip to Yosemite. 

But like everything else, the the last year has brought significant changes to the Yosemite access and Pass system. You can blame Covid, or staffing, the economy, budgetary constraints, or whatever, but the truth is that if you've been to Yosemite in the last 20 years you know summers in the park are insane. Traffic crawls, babies get bored sitting in cars, and all that spell a bad time for everyone involved. So love them or hate them, the passes should curtail visitation and give those who do visit a more relaxed trip into the park.

Here's the quick skinny on getting into Yosemite this year:

DAY USE PASSES:

• Passes will be required May 21 - Sept 30
• Passes must be reserved in advance.
• Passes will be good for 3 days. You do not need to check in on the first day for the pass to be validated.
• All visitors, including annual and life-time passholders must have a reservation.
• Passes are required for every vehicle (or motorcycle) that enters.
• Valid photo ID must match the name on the reservation.

YOU DO NOT NEED A PASS IF:

• you have a camping or lodging reservation
• you have a wilderness or Half Dome permit
• you have a vacation rental inside the park
• you enter via the local public transit system (YARTS buses)
• you enter with an authorized tour
• you travel through and exit without stopping. 

Want more info? Click on the button to visit the Nat'l Park Service's Yosemite page.

Let's face it, going to the grocery store kinda stinks-- Especially on check-in day, when your group is exhausted and all you want to do is settle in and make a drink.

Instead of cozying by the fireplace while your kids play in the snow, you'll be searching isles of an unfamiliar store, staying 6 feet from everyone, failing to follow the weird arrows on the floor, and queued up with a ton of strangers in the fabled 400 person-long check out line at Mammoth's Von's (slight exaggeration).

If you want to skip the schlep, we are happy to help.

If you have a Von's account, just go to vons.com, place your order for the morning of your check-in, and send us the confirmation so that we can deliver in time for check-in. We ask that you notify us at least 48 hours in advance so that we can schedule staff for your pick up.

If you don't have a Von's account, feel free to use our google form (also posted below) to place your order. In consultation with you, we will place your order at Von's and deliver your groceries for check-in day. We ask that you notify us at least 72 hours in advance so that we can make sure Von's has your items, and to schedule staff for your pick up.

If you need something special, feel free to reach out. We are happy to help you find the perfect items for your stay.

The charge for grocery delivery is $30 delivery charge.

We all know that masks are required pretty much everywhere in California these days.

And that includes Mammoth Mountain. Yes, even though its outdoors. You're still going to need a mask.

But some guests still ask, "What are they gonna do if I don't wear my mask, kick me off the mountain?" The short answer is yes, yes they will.

We've posted the MMSA mask policy below. Check it out for all the details.

Mask Violation Policy
In an effort to keep all guests and employees safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic we have implemented a strict mask violation policy with clear expectations and policies. Masks or face coverings must be a minimum of two layers.
Perforated, ventilated, and thin, single-layer neck gaiter style face coverings will not be allowed.
First documented warning:
·         You will receive a verbal education on our mask policy and are encouraged to "Stay Safe to Stay Open." This is your only warning and will be documented in your pass or ticket profile.
·         If you fail to comply with our mask policy the employee on site has the authority to revoke your riding privileges.
Second documented warning:
·         Repeat offenders or those who offer resistance to education will have their riding privileges suspended.
·         Ikon Pass holders will have their pass suspended for a minimum of 7 days. 
·         Multi day ticket holders will receive a minimum 24-hour suspension.
·         Single day ticket holders will have their ticket revoked.
Third documented warning:
·         Ikon Pass holders will have their pass suspended for the remainder of the season.
·         Single and multi-day ticket holders will lose their riding privileges for the remainder of the season.
These policies have been implemented for the safety of all those enjoying the resort and are an important part of our pledge to "Stay Safe to Stay Open."

Like everything in 2020, Thanksgiving in Mammoth looks a little bit different this year.

Traditional activities, like the Turkey Trot, will be virtual to ensure social distancing. 

Restaurants are focusing on take-out, so that guests can dine more safely at home. 

To ensure social distancing, the mountain is limiting lift tickets, and for that reason has already sold out of day passes for Thanksgiving week. Need passes? We have a couple of solution for you here.

We've got lots of Top Tips below, to help you make the most of your Adventure, Refined.

Whether you plan to dine in or carry out, we recommend that you make reservations well in advance. Some restaurants are already reporting that they are sold out. 

Here are some of our top suggestions for Turkey Day:

Need more suggestions? Reach out to Mary Beth by text, voice, or email. 760-965-4123

• Visitation levels will be controlled to avoid overcrowding and ensure social distancing.
• Mountain access will be prioritized for season and Session pass holders. Click for season pass info.
• The number of daily lift tickets will be monitored and available by advance purchase only. 
• Daily tickets must be purchased in advance and are not guaranteed. Click for daily ticket info.
• If your dates sell out, consider a Session Ikon pass, a season pass, or contact 800-MAMMOTH to ask about afternoon only tickets,
• COVID-safer protocols will be in place such as required masks, social distancing on shuttles, in lift lines, in lodges, etc. (see details below)
• The health, safety, and wellbeing of employees, guests, and community will be the utmost priority.

​Here are a few important rules and updates for your trip to Mammoth Mountain  . . .​

• Stay home if you are feeling sick or are exhibiting symptoms of illness. 
• Wear a mask (not perforated, ventilated, or thin, single-layer neck gaiter style face coverings) indoors, in lift lines and on lifts, in gondolas, shuttles, and when social distancing with others outside your travel group is not possible.  
• Wash hands thoroughly and often. Sanitizing stations are also available around the resort when hand washing is not feasible.  
• Respect capacity limits for indoor spaces, including stores and restaurants. Mammoth has created many new outdoor spaces for dining, and expect that much of the food and beverage service will be grab and go.
• Practice social distancing, allowing six feet of space between yourself and others outside of your travel group. 
• Please adhere to all signage and guidelines while visiting, including those directing walking patterns and one-way entries and exits. 
• Please avoid congregating in common areas whenever possible. 
• Please respect employees at all times, including while enforcing COVID-19-related regulations. 
• The Mountain is disinfecting high-touch points (railings, bathrooms, door handles, tables, chairs, etc.) and high-trafficked areas (gondolas, ticket windows, elevators, doors, guest rooms, etc.) throughout the destination more frequently.
• Instruction is available, but will be limited to private lessons for groups traveling together. Its a good idea to schedule as far in advance as feasible to insure availability.

Like most everything in 2020, on mountain dining will look a little different this ski season. Indoor dining will be severely limited, but Mammoth has invested a whole heap of time and energy in building new dining venues and new outdoor areas. There will be a new focus on grab-and-go meals and drinks to reduce in-lodge crowding.

​Update Nov 16, 2020: Ski passes for Mammoth Mountain are SOLD OUT for the week of Thanksgiving, from Sat, Nov 21 to Sunday, Nov 29.

The Good News: Ikon Pass holders do not need a reservation and won't be limited from the mountain.

The Hidden Possibilities: 

1. If you plan to ski for 4 days, consider buying an Ikon Session Pass. This pass gives you the same priority benefit as an Ikon pass, but is less expensive since it's limited to 4 consecutive days this season. Click on the Ikon Pass image to go to Ikon's sale page for the Session Pass.
2. Call (800) 800.MAMMOTH to find out if afternoon passes are available. These are usually more avaiable than full day passes. The mountain urges you to call as soon as possible to make afternoon ticket reservations. It is very likely that these passes will sell out for Thanksgiving week (if they haven't already).

 

Update Nov 16, 2020: Ski passes for Mammoth Mountain are SOLD OUT for the week of Thanksgiving, from Sat, Nov 21 to Sunday, Nov 29.

The Good News:  Ikon Pass holders do not need a reservation and won't be limited from the mountain.

The Hidden Possibilities: 

1. If you plan to ski for 4 days, consider buying an Ikon Session Pass. This pass gives you the same priority benefit as an Ikon pass, but is less expensive since it's limited to 4 consecutive days this season. Click on the Ikon Pass image to go to Ikon's sale page for the Session Pass.
2. Call (800) 800.MAMMOTH to find out if afternoon passes are available. These are usually more avaiable than full day passes. The mountain urges you to call as soon as possible to make afternoon ticket reservations. It is very likely that these passes will sell out.

Update: Nov 13 -- Mammoth Opens EARLY! Against all 2020 kinds of odd, Mammoth will open early this year, thanks to an decent storm last weekend and some of the best snow-making conditions in years. 
​Lifts open on Friday, Nov 13 at 8:30AM
Lifts planned to open include: Broadway Express (1), Panorama Gondola to McCoy Station, Stump Alley Express (2), Face Lift Express (3), Unbound Express (6), and Discovery Chair (11) giving access to 10 trails, 12 jibs and one 30’ jump.

If you're going, get in line early for a chance to grab this year's beanie. Staff will be handing some out when lifts open at 8:30AM.

The Good News:  Ikon Pass holders can head direct to the lift, or stop by the ticket office to pick up your pass.

​The Bad News: Lift tickets are sold out for the weekend. 

The Hidden Possibility: If you plan to ski for 4 days, consider buying an Ikon Session Pass. This pass gives you the same priority benefit as an Ikon pass, but is less expensive since it's limited to 4 consecutive days this season. Click on the Ikon Pass image to go to Ikon's sale page for the Session Pass.

Over the last few weeks, many national forests and activities have been closed due to the extreme wild-fire situation in California.

Although there has not been any direct risk to Mammoth Lakes, and the town has not had any evacuations or evac warnings, forests were closed to preserve fire fighting resources and to prevent additional fires.

We have just learned that as of tomorrow, Inyo National Forest will open many areas, which is great news for guests and local businesses alike.

And just in time for fall foliage . . .

We've collected the info we can from a ton of sources and posted them below for your info. We will continue to update this info as more info comes available.

​Scroll down, past the breathtaking photo of June Lake Loop (courtesy of Dakota Snider for Mammoth Lakes Tourism) for more 'what's open' info.

Starting tomorrow, day hike, fish, walk, camp, dog walk, boat, etc., all the Inyo National Forest places we call the 'front country,' i.e. areas that are not official federal Wilderness areas, meaning places like June Lake and Silver and Gull and Convict lakes and.... on and on.

Where it gets complicated is when you get on a trail headed into the Sierra range. That is because every trail headed in the Sierra range starts out in a parking lot or non-Wilderness and then eventually, if you are hiking uphill into the high Sierra range, you hit officially designated Wilderness boundaries and those boundaries are always marked by a big wooden sign. What makes is more complicated is that the Wilderness boundaries start at different distances up every single trail. For example, you could hike up McGee Creek canyon for about a half mile before hitting Wilderness; other trails, the boundary is closer, or further.

Also, we have two other area in the Inyo that don't get a lot of use; the White Mountains and the Inyo Mountains and they each have official Wildernesses in them. Those official Wilderness areas will reopen.

So, the bottom line is you need a good map or you just need to walk up a trail until you hit the marked Wilderness boundary. ... We hike this country all the time and even we cannot tell you right now exactly where every Wilderness boundary is!

The Inyo recommends going online to the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association at https://sierraforever.org. They have a phone number as well and can help you get the specific info you need. Otherwise, just day hike until you hit the signed Wilderness boundary. If you go past it, you are in a closed area.

​What is still closed?
The Inyo portions of the South Sierra, Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams, Owens River Headwaters, and Hoover Wilderness Areas remain closed through December 1, 2020.This closure may be rescinded or extended as needed. Many of the Inyo’s trail networks lead into active fire areas  that are closed and that are managing complex and difficult fires.

• Hiking Trails that are closed: Heart Lake, Emerald Lake, Consolidated Mine, Duck Pass, Rock Creek trails, McGee Creek trails, Parker Lake trail,
• Reds Meadow (Devil’s Postpile, Rainbow Falls, etc.) - Closed

Other closures in affect include:

• South Tufa at Mono Lake - Closed
• Navy Beach (Mono Lake) - Closed

Additional amenity information:

• Mammoth Mountain –ski and snowboard access closed - reopening November 14th.
• Mammoth Mountain Bike Park – closed for the season
• Mammoth Adventure Center – closed for the season
• Scenic Gondola – closed 
• Via Ferrata – closed for the season
• Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit – closed until further notice
• Whitmore Pool – closed for the season
• Hot Creek Fish Hatchery - Closed

So you've parked the Tesla at the SuperCharger and you need to hit the loo. Or you just want to stretch your legs. Or you are driving through town and your kids need a break. Or you are headed to the Alabama Hills and you want to pre-load some historical context around the film sets you'll see there. Regardless, the unimposing Museum of Western Film History is a 10/10 stop in Lone Pine -- a hidden gem for all audienes that should not be missed.

This small, but visually intense museum offers plenty of entertainment to fill an hour or two, including a movie overview of the history of film in the area, introductions to legends of film from silent to modern, immersive displays, and meaningful memorabilia.

The docents are have a wealth of local info about the film and general history of the area, and they offer pamphlets and self-guided tour books for those headed on to the 'back lot' of the Alamaba Hills. You can access some of this info through the museum website.

​If you're backpacking in the area, the museum offers long-term parking.

Wondering where to eat or what else there is to do around Lone Pine? Check out our article Lone Pine Top Stops.

Need a Tesla charge and wondering what to do while you wait? Need a snack? Wanna stretch your legs before you press on down the loneliest road in America? (Let's face it, there are parts of 395 that are as desolate as they come). Lone Pine is a quintessential western town where you never know what you'll see. It is a great stop for food, Tesla charging, sightseeing, and more.

Click on the photo for more info about our favorite food stops in town: Frosty Chalet, Subway, the Grill, and Lone Pine Smokehouse

Whether you want to spend an afternoon or a few days, Lone Pine has plenty to do to keep you busy. Click on the photo to read more.

Like many kids of my generation, I spent most of my youth oblivious to the injustice done to Japanese Americans during World War II. And when I did learn of it as a college student, I remember my shock to learn that the US government could detain citizens in remote, isolated, relocation camps. When I moved to California and learned about Manzanar's Visitor's Center and exhibits, I was anxious to take my kids to visit.

Plunked down and fenced in just off a lonely stretch of 395, Manzanar is a bleak place, and it is not hard to imagine the loss and desolation these Americans must have felt on arrival. Almost nothing of the original camp remains, but a committed group of descendants and goverment organizations are working to recreate and restore the camp and museum. Barracks have been rebuilt to paintakingly reanimate the experience of the people interned and the museum includes interactive, immersive, engaging educational activites.

Because this was a fairly large town, though, the grounds are expansive and many areas can be accessed by driving through the camp and stopping occasionally to explore. There are relics of the Japanese's people's everday lives including enchanting gardens that are a testiment to the gracious spirit, competitive drive, and love of beauty they enjoyed. 

If you're thinking this sounds like a drag, and not something you want to experience while you're on vacation, you're so wrong. While we were there, my family hiked, explored, imagined, listened, watched, discussed and engaged. And when we left, we were filled with pride and compassion for the resilient, passionate, gracious people we felt we had come to know through their stories.

I'm not usually one for grand speeches, but .... this stop along the 395 gives you a great opportunity to engage your kids about the Constitution, fear, war time decisions, the world as it is now. As terrible as Japanese interment was, my family coud not help but be impressed by the stories of the residents, their gardening competitions, the "fishing club," their many churches and activities, and their weeks long trips into the Sierras fishing for trout. There is a lot to admire about the indomitable spirit of the people who endured internment.