Mtn Biking USFS Trails in Mammoth Lakes

Inyo Craters Loop  Cross Country (Map B3)

Length - 10.5 miles of Intermediate to Advanced Riding
Take Main Street up to Minaret Road, take a right and drive in the direction of Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge. You will pass right by The Village on your way out of town.  About a mile out of town take a right at the Mammoth Scenic Loop.  Follow this paved road for about 2.6 miles to the Inyo Craters turnoff.  Take a left and follow the signs to the parking lot at the Inyo Craters Trail Head.  Park at the trail head parking lot (bath room area at the lot). 

This Mtn Bike loop begins about ¼ mile before the parking lot and heads out to the west.  There are Mountain Bike Signs that mark the trail. Please note there is one creek crossing along this simple flat route.  On most days you can avoid getting wet by carrying your bike to the next upstream crossing.  This ride sits right in the Middle of the Largest Jeffrey Pine Forest in the World.  While your at the parking area making sure you take the short hike to see the Inyo Craters.  Just follow the foot trail from the parking area. 

Hard Core  Hill Climbing/Downhill (Map B4)

Length - 2.5 miles / Advanced to Very Strenuous Riding
Take Minaret Road Hwy. 203 past Mammoth Mtns Main Lodge Area. About 2 miles up the road you need to turn right just before the Reds Meadow entrance station.  Park in the dirt parking area almost immediately to your right. 

The dirt road starting here is a USFS Designated Mtn Bike and 4x4 Route. Be ready to climb 1,500 feet in about 2.5 miles, this is a lung buster for those living at low elevations. Views of the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Mammoth Mountain, Long Valley Caldera and the Minarets are outstanding. Be prepared for cooler temperatures and strong afternoon breezes. The summit of this ride is at 10,700-ft.. Carry extra water this 2.5 miles is going to tax your body hard! 

Inyo Craters Spur  Single Track (Map B5)

Length - 3 miles - Intermediate Riding
This route starts from the Inyo Craters Loop (See B3) and provides some sections of quality single-track. This route ascends through pine forest and ends at the Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Mountain View Trail Single Track (Map B6)

Length - 5.5 miles of Advanced to Strenuous Riding
The beginning of the Mountain View Trail is at the Earthquake Fault Parking lot about 2 miles out of the Town of Mammoth Lakes.  Take Main Street up to Minaret Road, take a right and drive in the direction of Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge.  You will pass right by The Village on your way out of town.  The Best way to use this trail is to ride up Uptown to the FEE Sign were the Mountain View Trail starts. 

This single track trail slowly winds its way up to the Minaret Vista.  You get to experience all sorts of changing & challenging cross country single track conditions.  This trail offers up everything from dirt, pumice, fire roads, lodge pole forests, steep little climbs and some cool burmed banked turns.  When you reach the summit you will be treated to some epic views and a nice breeze.

From the Summit of course its all back downhill.  If your tired you have the option of riding the paved road back down to town.  This trail is great fun and the best part is it is Free to ride!  Use the Uptown connection and you can leave the car in town.  On a scale of 1-10 this ride scores a 10, a must ride for all you Mtn Bikers.

Vista Trail Single Track (Map B8)

Length - 3 miles of Beginner Type Riding
This trail begins just above the First Twin Lakes Bridge in the Lower Mammoth Lakes Basin.  Take Main Street Hwy. 203 towards Whisky Creek and the Village. Instead of following 203 go straight at the signal and now your on Lake Mary Road.  Proceed for about 2 miles to the First Twin Lakes Bridge.  Right after the Bridge look for the Vista Mtn Bike Trail sign on the left side of the road. 

This is a simple and short trail.  As you start the ride out very quickly it wants to branch of to the left and right.  Take the right fork and it crosses a old flume built in 1868 to power the mill for the below Mines.   The trail will come to a quick end at Old Mammoth Road.

Take a ride up this road and you will see some of Mammoth Roots in History. USFS markers, mining ruins and the remains of log cabins are all around.  You can continue up to Lake Mary Road or return to the trail and do it in the opposite direction.    This is a very short ride so link it up with another route or combine it with a loop around the pavement in the Upper Lakes Basin.

Knolls Loop  Dirt Roads (Map B9)

Length - 10 miles  Advanced/ Strenuous
This route begins at the Shady Rest Day Use Parking Area directly across from McDonalds.  As you enter the Shady Rest Area you will notice a paved path to your left.  We will use this path to get from the parking area to the start of this long ride.  Please use the day use parking and not campsite parking.  

Once your parked head back to the paved trail and ride down it 100 yards.  Cross over the paved road next to the path and you will see a dirt single track this is the start of the fun.  Next you will see there is a kiosk with a map of the Knolls Loop and surrounding Trails.

This Mountain Bike Route follows dirt roads with numerous side roads and variations. Most of the roads in this area loop back into each other or to the Sawmill Cutoff road, the Mammoth Scenic Loop or Hwy. 203 at some point.   Sign mark the entire Knolls Loop so it is easy to follow this route.  This ride offers up some views of the eastern sierra that are stunning and you will want to get off yur bikes and take a look and reflect.  This ride get a rating of a 10 for dirt road fun.

Big and Little Smokey Loops (Map B10) Get a copy of the map for this ride at the Visitors Center.

Length - 13 miles/ 6.1 miles/ Intermediate-Advanced
Head South out of Mammoth and take Hwy. 395 north for about 4 miles.  You will see a  dirt road on the right  side of the highway with a big sign and a dirt parking area, park here.

Two USFS Mountain Bike Trails begin from this parking area.   Big Smokey Loop take you on a climb into the adjacent hills where the views, trees and interesting reddish rock formations add to the aesthetics of the ride. This area is also home to a bunch of wooding operations so watch for trucks.  The Little Smokey Loop offers a pleasant cruise through the local sagebrush, tall grass's and many local wildflowers of the eastside.  Please Take your allergy meds if you get high country high fever for the Little Smokey Loop ride.

Mammoth Rock Trail (Map B11)
Length - 2.5 miles/ Intermediate

Trailhead is located on Sherwin Creek Road, one-half mile past Sierra Meadows Ranch.

The first three quarters of a mile follows an old mammoth jeep road, then turns to single-track. The Single Track climbs up a forested section then reach's a clearing caused by the great avalanche of February 1986.  The trail then passes just below Mammoth Rock and then continues to the end, which intersects Old Mammoth Road.  Now you can turn around and enjoy this ride as a downhill, use major awareness to watch for Horses.  You also have the option of riding back down Old Mammoth Road.

This is a mixed use trail and you better follow the rules on this one folks.  Trail etiquette requires mountain bikers to yield to horses and hikers.  DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH THE HORSES OR YOU RISK YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS.  Get off your bike and let them pass period!!!