Enjoying the Mammoth Trails System in Winter

October 05, 2026

Snow doesn't fall just on the ski area. The surrounding peaks and valleys and trails provide endless opportunities for adventure.

With an average of 400 inches of snow per year, Mammoth Mountain is the focal point of a winter vacation to Mammoth Lakes. But all that snow doesn't fall just on the ski area. The surrounding peaks, valleys, trails and summer roads are blanketed with just as much snow, creating a winter wonderland and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.

In winter, the Mammoth Lakes Trail System opens up for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing and snowmobiling. Four main trailheads give you access: the Lake Mary Road winter closure for the Lakes Basin, Shady Rest Park in town, Sherwin Meadow, and Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge for Minaret Vista. Many of the trails are free and open to the public. This is your insider's guide to the Mammoth Lakes Trail System in winter.

Quick Facts

  • Main winter trailheads: Lake Mary Road closure, Shady Rest Park, Sherwin Meadow, Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge
  • Free access: the Lakes Basin Winter Access Corridor and the groomed public trails at Shady Rest Par
  • Fee-based: Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center's groomed trail system in the Lakes Basin
  • Dogs: on-leash dogs are welcome on the Winter Access Corridor and at Shady Rest Park
  • Backcountry: avalanche training and a current avalanche forecast are essential

Featured Winter Trailheads

If you want to get outside this winter and enjoy the trails in our backyard, start by choosing a trailhead. Each one opens up a different part of the Mammoth Lakes Trail System.

Lake Mary Road Closure

You'll find parking at the top of Lake Mary Road near Lower Twin Lakes at the winter road closure. This trailhead is your main portal for exploring the Mammoth Lakes Basin in winter. Overflow parking is available at Lower Twin Lakes.

The Winter Access Corridor is the main trail in the Lakes Basin and is free for non-motorized travel all the way to Horseshoe Lake. It's a popular spot for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, as well as on-leash dog walking. As you approach Panorama Dome, the public access corridor runs alongside Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center's fee-based groomed trail system. Stay to the left side of the road and enjoy the free public access corridor.

Shady Rest Park

The snow-capped pine forest at Shady Rest Park is a great place for winter adventure. Access the Shady Rest Winter Trails from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center and Ranger Station at the entrance to town. When the snow falls, the groomed trails are the best place for an introduction to Nordic skiing. Best of all, the trails are free, open to the public and shared by a variety of users, including cross-country skiers, dog walkers and snowshoers. Snowmobilers also use Shady Rest Park as a launch spot for the Winter Grooming Snowmobile System for over-snow vehicles.

Sherwin Meadow Trails

Located on Sherwin Creek Road, the Sherwin Meadow trails are a launching spot for a variety of users, including snowmobilers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and backcountry skiers and snowboarders. The road and parking area are plowed regularly, offering an access point to Sherwin Ridge and Sherwin Meadow.

Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge

Though most visitors use the parking area at Mammoth Mountain to reach the fee-based chairlifts, Main Lodge is also the trailhead for Minaret Vista and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The trailhead has public parking, and you can also reach it by free shuttle from The Village. It's open to multi-use travelers, including snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Stay to the far right of Sesame Street to avoid downhill skiers as you head out of the ski area, then follow the summer road through a quiet forest.

Featured Winter Activities

From earning your turns in the backcountry to an easy snowshoe through the forest, the trail system has something for every ability level.

Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding

The backcountry around Mammoth Lakes is a playground for skiers and snowboarders who prefer to earn their turns. From Sherwin Ridge to Punta Bardini and the Tele Bowls, a number of peaks and ridges are easily accessible from town and ideal for backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Backcountry travel is inherently dangerous, and all participants should be well trained in avalanche safety. Check the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center forecast before every outing, and consider building your skills with a course like the Arc'teryx Backcountry Academy.

Cross Country Skiing

Bring your own cross-country skis or rent a setup from Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, and get out and explore the trail system this winter. From the groomed public access trails in town at Shady Rest Park to the high-altitude Mammoth Lakes Basin and scenic Minaret Vista, cross-country skiers will find dozens of miles of cross-country ski trails in Mammoth Lakes. Beyond the groomed trails are routes for exploring off-piste. For rentals, lessons and more places to ski, see our guide to cross-country and Nordic skiing in Mammoth Lakes.

Snowmobiling

Hundreds of snow-covered roads provide endless opportunities for snowmobile exploration in Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra. A few trailheads in our backyard are the portal to an expansive over-snow vehicle (OSV) network of trails that travel east and north of town. You'll find scenic trail riding for beginners and families, and mountain climbing and powder riding for advanced snowmobilers looking for an adventure. New to the sport? Book a guided snowmobile tour from Main Lodge.

Snowshoeing

Just about anywhere you want to go is open to snowshoers, except the fee-based ski areas. With a pair of snowshoes strapped to your feet, the possibilities for adventure are limitless. Bring your own snowshoes or rent your gear, and set out on the Mammoth Lakes Trail System's free public access groomed trails. Or blaze your own route through the meadows and forests to see what you can see. Find more snowshoeing routes on the trail system, browse our guide to snowshoeing in Mammoth Lakes, or plan a family snowshoeing day.

Featured Locations for Winter Activities

Ready to head out? These four routes show off the best of the trail system in winter.

Cross Country Ski at Shady Rest Park

After the first major snowstorm of the season, crews groom the public access and multi-use ski trails at Shady Rest Park daily, weather permitting. Cross-country skiing at Shady Rest is a fun way to learn how to Nordic ski, as well as a great way to acclimate to the high-elevation trails in Mammoth Lakes. Set out from the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center and cross-country ski the easy 1.8-mile loop.

Ski or Snowboard the Tele Bowls

Named for the telemark skiers who love the wide-open, powder-filled bowls, the Tele Bowls sit on the lower flank of Punta Bardini, and you can see them from the Old Mammoth side of town. Starting from the Borrow Pit, skiers and snowboarders cross the flats of Sherwin Meadow before climbing the forested ridgeline to the bowls. Take a few laps before heading out.

Snowmobile to Bald Mountain

From Shady Rest Park in town, riders can snowmobile to Bald Mountain, a scenic overlook in Long Valley with expansive and unobstructed views. The A Trail is a popular OSV route that connects with a number of side trails allowing riders to travel hundreds of miles in the Mammoth Lakes Trail System. The trail travels from Shady Rest Park through a dense Jeffrey Pine forest to Bald Mountain Road where riders take the D Trail to the summit.

Snowshoe to Minaret Vista

The lookout point at Minaret Vista point is a popular sightseeing destination in the summer, but to get there in the winter, you’ll have to travel over snow. Snowshoeing to the Minaret Vista from Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge is a 2.5-mile trek climbing nearly 400 feet in elevation, but you’ll be rewarded with unobstructed views of snowcapped mountains. From Mammoth Mountain’s Main Lodge stay right as you snowshoe past the ski lifts and continue up the summer road until you reach the Reds Meadow Entrance Station. Climb up the spur trail to the lookout point and enjoy the view.

Cross-country skier gliding on a snow-covered trail with pine trees and mountains in the background.

Winter Trail Etiquette

Shared trails work best when everyone looks out for each other.

Snowshoers and walkers should stay off groomed cross-country ski tracks, especially next to Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center's fee-based trails in the Lakes Basin. Keep dogs on leash and pack out their waste. On multi-use routes like the road to Minaret Vista, watch for snowmobiles and grooming equipment and give them plenty of room. Before you head out, check the weather and road conditions in our Winter Ready Guide.

Plan Your Winter Trail Getaway

With four trailheads and dozens of miles of trails, one day won't cover it all. Give yourself a few nights in town to snowshoe the Lakes Basin one morning and ski Shady Rest the next. Browse hotels, motels and resorts in Mammoth Lakes to plan your stay. Want even more ideas? Check out these winter activities that aren't skiing or snowboarding, and plan a midweek trip to take advantage of weekday warrior perks.

FAQ

Where can you snowshoe in Mammoth Lakes?

Snowshoers can explore almost anywhere outside the fee-based ski areas. Popular spots include the Lakes Basin Winter Access Corridor, the groomed trails at Shady Rest Park, Sherwin Meadow, and the route from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge to Minaret Vista.

Where can you cross-country ski for free in Mammoth Lakes?

The groomed trails at Shady Rest Park are free and open to the public, and the Lakes Basin Winter Access Corridor is free for non-motorized travel. Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center also offers groomed trails in the Lakes Basin with a paid pass.

Can you bring your dog on winter trails in Mammoth Lakes?

Yes. On-leash dogs are welcome on the Lakes Basin Winter Access Corridor and the Shady Rest Park trails. Find more options in our guide to dog walking in Mammoth Lakes.

How do you get to Minaret Vista in winter?

In winter, you can only reach Minaret Vista over snow. Snowshoe or cross-country ski 2.5 miles each way from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge, following the summer road past the ski lifts to the Reds Meadow Entrance Station and up the spur trail.

Where can you snowmobile in Mammoth Lakes?

Shady Rest Park and Sherwin Meadow are the main launch points for the over-snow vehicle trail network. The A Trail from Shady Rest Park connects to more than 80 miles of groomed trails and open play areas.

Is backcountry skiing safe in Mammoth Lakes?

Backcountry travel is inherently dangerous. Take an avalanche safety course, carry avalanche rescue gear, and check the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center forecast before every outing.

Author
Monica Prelle
Monica Prelle is an outdoors, wine, and travel writer who would rather be running, climbing, or mountain biking.
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