Although I wanted him to be brave, part of me pictured his hands losing grip on the rope suspended to the branch above his head and his little body landing with a dull thud onto the sharp rocks. We took our kids to Mammoth Lakes in the summer because we knew there were tons of fun things to do with kids that were different from winter activities. But this was a bit much.
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Besides our screams of terrified excitement, Gull Lake, one of the June Lakes by Mammoth, was relatively quiet. Only a few boats bobbed on the calm, green water bordered by a wall of bamboo growing from the bottom of the lake. Pine trees and snow-capped mountains framed our postcard view.
My son, Kaleb, held his hands high, testing his grip on the well-worn fibers. “Come on Kaleb, you can do it!” his dad and I encouraged him. It didn’t help that his best friend, Blake, would have nothing to do with any of this and was doing everything in his power to discourage everyone from what he considered a foolish activity. “Please Kaleb! Don’t!” he literally cried, “you’re my best friend! I don’t want you to die!” The possibility of an actual death was probably a stretch from the five-foot fall that would occur if, indeed, Kaleb did lose his grip on the rope, which, if he held on, would send him over the dirt, on which he currently stood, over the aforementioned sharp rocks and into the wake-up call of the frosty lake water.
Mammoth Lakes, during the summertime, is full of opportunities to laugh into the face of death. Our family had only explored the mountains on skis and snowboards, so when my friend, Lisa Miller, mother to cautious Blake and his two brothers Camden and Rylan, asked if we wanted to spend a long weekend up there, how could we say no?
Kaleb took some deep breathes. Paused for a second. Blake’s woeful lamentations could be heard in the silence between our breaths. He walked away to sit, moaning by a bush, not wanting to watch. Everyone else was still, waiting. His dad floated in the lake nearby to reassure him that he was there and to also give him a target for which to aim. I was taking the video. Another breath and he charged with quiet determination at the jade water.
This would be a different story if he had missed. Instead, he learned he could have fear, face it and get on with it.
This brings me to my first tip about visiting Mammoth Lakes during the summer.
GO JUMP IN A LAKE
Specifically, go find the tire swing, which on the day we went was inaccessibly hanging on a branch, way out of reach. However, there was also a rope swing tethered an arm’s length away. These you can find on Gull Lake, one of the four lakes along the June Lake Loop, which is about a 20-minute, well-worth-it drive from Mammoth Lakes. The path to the swing and rope is along the Fisherman’s Trail at the Gull Lake Campground.
Drive along Highway 158 from downtown June Lake until you see the campground.
It’s a sign. The sign. To look for when you go. ©Rina Nehdar
Park your car and head toward the path poking out just left of the road sign if you’re facing the campground.
The signs that you’re heading in the right direction are pretty hard to miss.
See? ©Rina Nehdar
Everyone who jumped had fun, and the ones who didn’t were happy the others had survived, so it was a good day.
Geronimo! ©Rina Nehdar
For Lunch
Stop by the city of June Lake on your way to or from the rope swing and get lunch at June Lake Brewing. They have a Hawaiian food truck that serves food until 4pm or until they run out. The tables are long and communal. We met 15-year residents and self-described June Lake hillbillies, Amanda and Peter, there. They said they love June Lake for the yoga, rock climbing, and hot springs. Peter said the population of June Lake is the same as the number of people in the apartment building in which he lived in Seattle.
Fueling up with fire food. ©Rina Nehdar
GO FISH
While we were tempting fate with rocks and water, I’m sure we were getting some evil looks from the fishermen whose luck we were probably changing with our crazy antics. Fishing season in Mono County, where both Mammoth and June Lake are located, starts the last Saturday of April and goes until mid-November. After we survived the rope swing and the mosquitoes, we decided to see if we could continue our winning streak in a pontoon boat loaded with reels and sharp hooks.
The sharper the better… ©Rina Nehdar
We may or may not have forgotten the bait, which may or may not have contributed to breaking that streak. But fun was had by all as the Miller boys claimed to never have gone fishing before, and mine had only done it on land with a guide doing most of the work.
As big as the fish. ©Rina Nehdar
We rented a boat big enough for us all at Lake Mary and tried our luck with lures alone.
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Although we didn’t catch any fish, the boys had fun casting the line and taking turns driving the boat at 2mph, so that was good enough for the adults. And then there was the dance party.
Plus, they got the chance to jump in the lake again.
GET A MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE PASS
Full of energy in the perfect place to burn it. ©Rina Nehdar
If you have five boys to entertain or even four or three or god-forbid two (!) then you need to run them until they drop. The perfect place to do that is at the Adventure Center right by the Mammoth Lodge, where, during the summertime, they set up a rock wall, zip line, and bungee trampoline. The pass also gives a discount on lift passes for the biking trails. A pass gives your jellybeans unlimited opportunities to hurl themselves at walls, bounce their little hearts out, and throw themselves into whatever tizzy they want from 25 feet off the ground, all outside the range of your sensitive eardrums in the safety of a controlled environment.
One of the operators challenged the boys to climb the hardest wall, and Knox was the only one in our group who did it. He conned the guy out of a pack of Starburst as a reward.
Perseverance and determination lead to…©Rina Nehdar
Sweet rewards. ©Rina Nehdar
TAKE A HIKE
Lord of the Flies? ©Rina Nehdar
There are hiking trails leading from the gondolas leaving the Adventure Center, where families can take strenuous to moderate hikes on Mammoth Mountain, lush with fiery wildflowers exploding from the earth after abundant snow melts. There are also areas to explore beyond the popular mountain accessible by dog-friendly shuttles that transport visitors to points that let them choose the length of their adventure. Shuttles leave from the convenience of the Adventure Center.
Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow Falls Trails
The shuttle takes you down a narrow, circuitous mountain road, making you hope the driver is feeling at the top of his game. The road drops hikers into God’s majestic Christmas tree lot, with pine-needle scents wafting from the expansive, rolling hills.
This heart-melting area that leads to Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow Falls was almost turned into a woodpile by the logging industry at the start of the last century. However, President Taft declared the land a National Monument in 1911, protecting it for generations of outdoor lovers.
The trail to Devil’s Postpile is a short one, at only .08 of a mile, and will make anyone feel like a warrior, despite their actual fitness level.
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One sharp glacier makes two happy families.
However, the fun of hiking on to Rainbow Falls through beautifully preserved trails and heart-bursting vistas may have been marred by a staccato of whines, not the good kind. The hike is a 5-mile loop and winds past the 101-foot drop of torrential water over basalt cliffs.
We made it!
We all admired the floating rainbow on the majestic waterfall.
The treasure is everywhere. ©Rina Nehdar
But by the end of our long and dry hike, our city boys had their shirts wrapped around their heads and were charging through streams and climbing over rock obstacles. We all just wished we had brought more water.
Nature taking over. ©Rina Nehdar
VISIT MAMMOTH VILLAGE
The Village, the central gathering spot in Mammoth, hosts events to bring visitors together, socialize, and wine and dine them throughout the year. While we were there, the event they held was called the World’s Highest Rib Cook-Off, which featured live music and hula hoops.
No problem. ©Rina Nehdar
UNPLUG
Screens are addictive. Sure, they can be useful at the right time and place but a majestic mix of mountains and trees is not the time or place. It’s pretty great to see imaginations soar when electronics aren’t on the agenda.
Remember this game? ©Rina Nehdar
RIDE THE FREE TROLLY
In Mammoth Lakes a free, open-air trolly could take you almost anywhere you want to go. Check the schedule for running times.
It was the last thing we did and a wonderful recap of our trip as we cruised by and relived our adventures.
Reliving an incredible weekend. Photo courtesy of Visit Mammoth
We passed horse rentals and new lakes to discover for next time…..and even passed some familiar sights…..
Sometimes a peaceful scene. ©Rina Nehdar
Frequently Asked Questions: Summer in Mammoth Lakes With Kids
Q: Is Mammoth Lakes good for families in summer?
Yes — Mammoth Lakes is one of the best summer destinations in California for families. The mountain town offers hiking, fishing, bike trails, the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Zone with an alpine slide and zip line, and easy access to the June Lakes loop. Temperatures are cool and comfortable even in peak summer, making it a great escape from the Southern California heat.
Q: How far is Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles?
Mammoth Lakes is about 310 miles northeast of Los Angeles, roughly a 5 to 5.5 hour drive via US-395 in ideal traffic. It’s a popular long weekend road trip from LA. The drive up the 395 through the Owens Valley is scenic and enjoyable, passing by Alabama Hills and Eastern Sierra views.
Q: What is the best hike in Mammoth Lakes for kids?
The Duck Pass Trail and the hike to Twin Falls are excellent family-friendly options. For younger kids, a stroll around Lake Mary is easy and rewarding. The June Lakes loop area offers several accessible lake hikes that reward families with beautiful alpine scenery without requiring serious elevation gain.
Q: What is the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Zone?
The Mammoth Mountain Adventure Zone is an outdoor summer activity park at the base of Mammoth Mountain. It includes an alpine slide, bungee trampoline, mini golf, a climbing wall, and zip line. A gondola ride to the summit is also available with panoramic Sierra Nevada views. It’s a highlight for families visiting Mammoth in summer.
Q: When is the best time to visit Mammoth Lakes in summer?
July through early September is the peak summer window, when all roads and trails are fully open and the weather is warm and stable. July 4th weekend and Labor Day weekend are the busiest times — book lodging well in advance for those dates. Late June can still have snow at higher elevations but offers fewer crowds.
When You Go
Getting To Mammoth Lakes from LA
Mammoth Lakes is about 310 miles from the center of Los Angeles. In ideal traffic conditions, it takes just over 5 hours to drive via US-395N. There are private charter flights available and also United does a seasonal route.
An excellent discount site for rental cars and flights is Booking! We literally save hundreds of dollars using it.
Where to Stay in Mammoth
There are condos, timeshares and hotels. Use this map to see where everything is and how much it will cost during the time you want to go.
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