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| Home > California > Mammoth Lakes |
Mammoth Lakes
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
| Other Names | Big Springs, June Lake, Crowley Lake, Owens River, Inyo National Forest, Hot Creek, Bald Mountain, Crowley Lake Campground, Mammoth Loops |
| Last Known Status | Open |
Looking for a great place to take the family for a weekend of casual riding? Then look no further. This area offers great scenery, free camping with a nearby creek, plenty of shade and miles of smooth and easy trails. The trails mostly consist of sandy with some hard pack dirt, but there are some single track to be found. This is a large trail system which is split in half by US-395. The eastern section can be accessed by staging at Big Springs Campground while the western section by staging at Glass Creek Campground.
Big Springs Campground has 26 sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and bear proof storage box. Many people come to this campground just to fill their bottles with the water that flows from an underground stream near the creek (look for the white pipe). Big Springs is popular and fills up quickly, but Glass Creek Campground is another option and is located a few miles away but offers about 60 sites and can accommodate trailers up to 45 feet. Other campgrounds in the area that also offer direct trail access include Hartley Springs, Deadman and Obsidian Flat Group Campground.
There are around forty or more creeks and lakes in the area, as well as a cluster of hot springs about 15 miles away, swimming holes, boat rentals and gondola rides, so we suggest you plan to stay a few days and enjoy it all. Around mid June the annual Monster Energy Mammoth Motocross is hosted at Mammoth MX, which attracts thousands of spectators from around the country.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | CA OHMVR stickers required |
| Dates Open | Year-Round (recommend June through October) | CA OHMVR red sticker vehicles permitted year round |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | Yes | Residents of any state not listed must purchase a Nonresident OHV Use Permit. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY) |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (96 dB) | CA OHMVR noise limits apply (1985/older limit 101 dB, 1986/newer limit 96 dB) |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 ATVs | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | CA OHMVR stickers required |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | CA OHMVR restrictions apply |
| MX Helmet Required | Yes | helmets required by state law |
 Camping | No Restriction | (camp anywhere) camp anywhere - with permits (wilderness permit & fire permit) |
 Campfires | Some Areas | (permitted in developed campsites only) |
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | stay on trail |
| Alcohol | No Restriction | California open container law |
| Rule Enforcement | Few/Periodic | Jeep/SUV Patrol |
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 256,000 acres (400 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 200 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 7250 to 8500 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Not Marked, Not Rated, Not Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Mostly | very loose, almost sandy, very dry and dusty |
| Hard Pack |  Some | |
| Sand | Some | pretty loose in some parts |
| Mud |  Little | |
| Dust | Mostly | very dusty as forest trails go |
| Rocks | Little | remarkably few rocks, trails very smooth |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills |  Few | very mild |
| Water Crossings | Few | didn't see any, but map shows a few |
| Small Jumps | Few | some rockers on the narrow trail |
| Large Jumps |  None | |
| Berms | Few | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | Few | |
| Single Track | Some | some great ones - fun & easy |
| Roads | Few | |
| Intersections | Some | all trails 2-way |
| Rider Traffic | Few | not crowded |
| Shade |  Many | |
| Ranges/Gunfire | Few | a few spots show evidence of shooting |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards not marked) |
 Novice | Mostly | |
 Amateur | Some | |
 Expert | Little | |
| Comment | excellent for beginner/family | |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails, Gravel Pit |
| Land | National Forest |
GPS POINTS
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 5-20 Miles (NW) | June Lake Junction Gas Station (760) 648-7509 |
| Diesel | 5-20 Miles (NW) | June Lake Junction Gas Station (760) 648-7509 |
 Water | On Site | potable water creek water is clean. Pay sites have water. |
 RV Hookup | 5-20 Miles (SW) | Mammoth Mountain RV Park (760) 934-3822 |
 RV Disposal | Mammoth Lakes, CA | |
| Campground | On Site | |
 Conv Store | 5-20 Miles (NW) | June Lake Junction Gas Station (760) 648-7509 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
| Comment | Most campgrounds free - recommend "Big Springs". |
RATINGS
| Pros | relaxing, easy & scenic trails, friendly rangers, free camping, shade, beauty |
| Cons | stinky bathrooms in free campground, all terrain is smooth & easy to moderate |
| Our Rating |  Very Good |
| Recommended Stay | 3-5 Days |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Mammoth Lakes, CA | ||
| Address | Owens River Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 | ||
| From: Reno, NV
1) Take US-395 South towards town of Mammoth Lakes 2) Turn left (east) onto Owens River Road, continue 2 miles 3) Big Springs Campground is on the left (north). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Inyo National Forest - Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center P.O. Box 148 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 924-5500 mailroom_r5_inyo@fs.fed.us www.fs.usda.gov |
| Contact Info | Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 48 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (888) 466-2666 info@visitmammoth.com www.visitmammoth.com |
| Contact Info | Enjoy the Mountain Off Road Adventures 29121 Hook Creek Road Cedar Glen, CA 92321 (844) 386-6691 info@enjoythemountain.com www.enjoythemountain.com |
| Comment | Guided ATV tours and rentals. |
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
A nice shot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Bring the camera!
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Main entrance to the Bald Mountain fire lookout station.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
This warming hut is located next to the Bald Mountain fire lookout station. When we visited it had some canned goods, fire wood, basic furniture and a guest book.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
One of the few sections of single track.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Many of the trails look like this - wide, smooth and fairly easy. This is a good place to bring the ATVs or Jeeps.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
The trails can be a little dusty during dry weather. Overall, a good time is guaranteed.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Big Springs Campground offers 26 primitive sites. There is no fee to camp here but sites are on a first come, first serve basis.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mammoth Lakes Trail Photo
Mono Lake.
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS