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This travel article will provide travel information from Mammoth Lakes in the south to the Mono Lake area in the north.

MAMMOTH, CA

Dave
2004-02-21 14:21:46

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This travel article will provide travel information from Mammoth Lakes in the south to the Mono Lake area in the north. Cities covered in this article include Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, and Bodie.

The Mammoth Lakes area of the Eastern Sierra is my second favorite outdoors recreational area in California, just behind Lassen National Volcanic Park. My favorite time to visit this area is in between seasons.

Mammoth Lakes has two distinct seasons, summer and winter. In the winter the town is crowded with LA basin skiers. In the summer the town is crowded with a mix of Bay Area and LA visitors. I enjoy visiting the Eastern Sierra any time of the year, however I particularly enjoy visiting in mid September to the end of October. The aspen is turning color. You can watch the progression of reds and gold's slowly make its way down the steep sides of the mountains. In mid September only the aspen located at the upper reaches of the mountains has turned color. By mid October the slopes ring out with the colorful splendors. The days are still warm even at 8000 feet while the nights have a crisp cold feel to them. There are very few people visiting the Eastern Sierra this time of year. The streets, trails, and outdoors are fairly empty of people. Lastly, it is also an excellent time to find sales at the local outdoor stores.

The Mammoth area has so much to offer in the way of outdoor activities. Hiking trails are numerous, little visited streams flowing with cold clear water are nestled among the shadows of the sharp Eastern Sierra peaks, hot springs gurgle and wait for our body if you know where to find them, small lakes open their waters to those who carry a pole, and unusual geological formations abound. All this waits for you just a mere 5 or 6 hours from the LA basin any time of the year. If you like to drive fast on the 395 you will no doubt get to Mammoth closer to the five hours, and if you like to ...