A Three-Day Leisure Trip Around Mammoth Lakes 🏔️🏝️

Not just a winter ski destination—Mammoth Lakes in summer offers cool weather, stunning alpine lake views rivaling Tahoe 🏞️, geothermal wonders and hot springs like Lassen ♨️, plus unique rock formations! It’s less crowded, the hotels are great, and we had an absolute blast over three days… even our dog went crazy with joy! 🐕💫 At high elevation, even July stays pleasantly cool 🌲❄️. Plenty of shade everywhere, and last-minute Airbnb options are surprisingly good! We booked a two-story cabin for much less than peak winter rates 🏡💸. If you leave the Bay Area in the morning, you can reach Mono Lake by afternoon. Stop for dinner at Whoa Nellie Deli by the lake—their food is legendary! 🍔🌅 (Check my last post for a full review.) The outdoor seating offers sweeping lake views—perfect for enjoying a cold beer or ice cream 🍺🍦. Afterward, visit Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve to see its extraordinary formations, then catch the sunset at Navy Beach Viewpoint 🌄🧡. With that, you’ve covered Mono Lake’s highlights! Grab groceries for the next few days before dark, then head back to your Airbnb to relax 🛒🌙. Day two begins with Hot Creek Geologic Site 🔥💧—known as “Little Yellowstone” along Highway 395! You’ll find bubbling hot springs and creeks… with fish swimming in them?! 🐟✨ It’s an easy stop: just step out of the parking lot and you’re there. Then tour Convict Lake, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, and June Lake—each offering gorgeous mountain-water scenery 🏔️💙. Swim, lounge, or just chill lakeside 😎🏊♂️. Convict Lake is called “Little Banff” for a reason—it’s breathtaking! Twin Lakes is best explored by bike 🚴♀️, and Silver Lake is quiet with affordable boat rentals 🛶. Next, hike the stunning Little Lakes Trail 🥾🌲—a series of breathtaking alpine lakes with routes for all fitness levels. You’ll spot all kinds of fascinating mushrooms along the way 🍄! Better parking than the popular Long Lake Trail, with a spacious lot that hardly fills up 🅿️✅. This route lets you explore smoothly without backtracking. After a full day, unwind at the night market in The Village At Mammoth 🎪🍜. Park at 50 Hillside Dr 🚗. On day three, visit Crowley Lake Stone Columns 🪨➰—a natural wonder of towering rock formations. Go early to hike without the harsh sun! ☀️🧢 Tips: • Even in summer, it gets cold at high elevation—bring a jacket! 🧥 • Altitude sickness is real—take it easy and avoid strenuous activity. 🚫🏃♂️ • Bear encounters are common 🐻➡️🚗—always lock food away. • Limited to no cell service in most areas. 📵 #SceneryOnTheJourney #WeekendGetawayFromBayArea #Mammoth #MammothLakes #RoadTrip #Highway395