Mammoth Mountain's Top Runs for Snowboarders

The difficulty of terrain increases with elevation at Mammoth Mountain, so beginners will spend most of their time near the base areas. The best green trails cluster at the bottom of the ski area at Canyon Lodge and wrap around to Eagle Lodge. These runs get plenty of morning sun and stay out of the way of the steeper intermediate runs that attract advanced snowboarders riding at higher speeds.

On warm weekdays, hop on the Eagle Express (Chair 15) and ride down Sleepy Hollow, Pumpkin or Lupin. If you need a bit more of a challenge, head over to Canyon Lodge and take Schoolyard Express (Chair 17) to ride Spring Canyon and Round About.

For your very first turns, head to the Main Lodge side. The Discovery Chair (Chair 11) serves the mountain's gentlest terrain, so you can take laps on Sesame Street and Road Runner.

Tip: The amount of snowfall significantly affects the difficulty of trails. After a snowstorm, beginners with strong fundamental skills, including turning and stopping, can ride a number of the easier blue runs in soft snow. Always use common sense and ride within your ability.

For advanced riders, start on Chair 15 in the morning and head across to Chair 22. Note that there's a short traverse called Milk Run between the top of Chair 15 and Swell. Be sure to keep up your speed!

There are a number of transitional runs, like Quicksilver and Haven't the Foggiest, that offer somewhat steep, advanced terrain but don't necessarily require expert skills. As legs warm and ambition permits, head over to Chair 22's expert terrain and shoot chutes like Shaft or the aptly named Avalanche Chutes. Then head over to High Five Express (Chair 5) for the fun and challenging chutes of Sanctuary and Triangle.

When you're ready for the top, Huevos Grande, Dropout Chutes and Paranoid Flats offer some of the most challenging runs on the mountain and deserve their double diamonds. You'll find more than 16 other black and double black diamond runs off the top.

From the bottom of Huevos Grande, there's a nice shortcut through Rooster Tail into Christmas Bowl and down into the Lower Dry Creek area before resting your legs on Easy Rider. The Dropout Chutes are also challenging and deserve an hour to ride all three if you include recovery time and gut checks at the top.

Keep in mind that all ratings are relative to the mountain. A black diamond at your home mountain may be easier or more difficult than those on Mammoth Mountain. It's best to warm up a full level below your ability before moving on to anything more challenging. For example, if you regularly ride black diamond runs, warm up on a few blue routes. Similarly, if you ride intermediate terrain, warm up on a few green trails.

For those looking for a sidecountry-style experience without the hassle, the backside of the mountain near Chairs 13 and 14 offers a huge number of off-piste options. Just be sure you have the proper skills and gear.

A few flat spots and traverses can slow snowboarders down, so plan your route before you drop in. Carry speed into Milk Run and other traverses, and check the trail map for cat tracks that connect runs. On busy days, start early at Eagle Express or Canyon Lodge, where morning sun softens the snow first.