Mammoth lakes with family

I don't know if you are history fans. There are a number of old gold mines south of town near Lake Mary. The Forest Service trails will lead you there, but you can't go inside. The interpretive signs will tell you what you are looking at. Unfortunately, your daughter is probably too young to get much out of it.

–B.G.–

Thanks Bob, my wife is a history teacher and I love stuff like that. We have also thought of a trip to see the Manzanar internment camp and depending how everyone is doing I might day hike solo to Ediza lake and back.

Dinner at the Lakeshore restaurant at Tamarack Lodge is a great treat. It's fun to walk around the fish hatchery by the airport. There are hot springs out by the airport area as well. Yosemite valley is within driving distance for a day trip if you have not been there a lot. A day hike to the Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls is great fun and not a bad distance to carry a child on your back. Bugs might be eager to greet you. Have fun!

Hmmm. Manzanar would be a drive from Mammoth. The museum is interesting for history fans and there is a free movie, but you probably want to get there first thing in the morning. By noon, it tends to be awfully warm there. I found very little of the rest of the camp to be worthwhile.

Why stop at Lake Ediza? Take your ice axe and crampons to go up Mount Ritter.

–B.G.–

How about going up to Bodie State Park? Also, Mammoth Brewing has a tasting room that was fun for us.

Thousand Island Lake might be too far for a day hike but is absolutely beautiful.

Eat at Toomey's. Yum.

Our first night of the trip we are staying in South Lake Tahoe and plan on visiting Bodie on the way to Mammoth.

We might also plan a daytrip to Toulmne Meadows and day hike from there. We hiked Cathedral Lakes a few years ago.

Not sure if we will make it to the valley and I am not sure I want to deal with the crowds. Even at 2 years old I think the valley can have and impact on my daughter. I still remember the first time I was there at age six.

Thank again for all the ideas.

http://alltrails.com/us/california/mammoth-lakes

This site may be helpful.

A couple of places not mentioned previously:

– Inyo craters

– Glass Creek. A short, steep climb gets to a nice alpine meadow, which should have good wild flowers at this time of year.

– Obsidian Dome. On the way to the Glass Creek Meadow TH, a huge pile of black obsidian rocks. Interesting if you are into geology, or just like cool rocks.

These all require some travel on dusty, rocky gravel roads.

Thanks again everyone. I think I have a good idea of what we will try.

I have been thinking about a solo hike to Thousand Island Lake. I have read a few trip reports and it seems doable. 15-18 miles round trip. 10-12 hours. I would take the first shuttle to the trail head in the morning. Any thoughts?

a hike to Thousand Island Lake is worth it.
there is a hard route and an easier route.
taking the River trail from Agnew Meadows to Shadow Lake and then JMT past Garnet Lake and on to Thousand is a great hike but has a lot more climbing than you might think.
the River Trail straight to Thousand Island is a bit easier.
your choice.

if you're having a super strong day you could try to hit both Lake Ediza and Thousand Island in the same hike.

also, as you mentioned in first post – downhill mountain biking at Mammoth Mntn is lots of fun … but maybe not with your 21 month old on the handlebars.
there is (among others) a fun beginner 10 mile trail that goes from the ski area slowly down in to town, then you take a free bus back up. there are also some very advanced trails on the mountain itself.

maps
Mammoth High Country by Tom Harrison Maps is the one to get.

Nobody mentioned Mono Lake. There’s a nice visitor center there, and I think some short trails. You’ll be driving right by, of course. You can kayak on the lake–there are operators that organize tours, but I’m not sure it’s 22 month old friendly.

The June Lake Loop is a scenic drive.

Regarding hiking, here’s a route similar to what Art was describing above: here

It looks like about 21 miles from Agnew Meadows, out to Thousand Island, back past Garnet, up to Ediza, and back to Agnew Meadows. +/- 5k ft in elevation change. You can lop off about 4 miles if you get to the Lake Ediza junction and decide to skip Ediza. Absolutely beautiful scenery, though, particularly at Ediza, and Thousand Island Lake.