Mammoth Lakes Area

Rainbow Falls, near Mammoth Mountain and Devil's P...

Description 

Mammoth Lakes is primarily a summer and fall climbing area. All types of climbing can be found here from short sport routes on volcanic tuff, to medium length alpine routes on perfect granite. Mammoth Lakes has a bit of everything for everybody.

Depending on the snow fall of the previous winter climbing begins generally in late April and May, and continues through until November (depending on Snow fall). Some of the bouldering areas closer to the 395 are open all year around.

Crystal Crag is a fine example of the granite crags, while Clark Canyon is the best of the tuff sport crags.

The Mammoth area covers a fair amount of climbing stretching from Rock Creek in the south, all the way to Matrimony Wall, in the north.

Getting There 

Mammoth Lakes sits 3.5 miles west of the 395 along the 203, about 40 minutes North of Bishop.

The Classics

Featured Route For Mammoth Lakes Area

Driller Instinct 5.10d  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Stoned Wheat Thin Cliff

This is described in the guidebook as perhaps the best route at Clark Canyon. It is a beautiful, long pitch of steep climbing on great rock. Climb the bolted, right-facing dihedral before heading out right on to the face after the fifth (?) bolt. Climb the face to a small roof, passing it on the right, to a long, ever-steepening arete to the anchor. Be careful lowering/rappelling off. A 70-meter rope will lower you to the first bolt of the route...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Mammoth Lakes Area Slideshow

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Mammoth area skyline. From left to right: Mammot...	Year-round fun	Mammoth Mountain from the Duck Pass Trail
The Sherwins from Mammoth Knolls	The town of Mammoth Lakes with the White Mountains...	Typical scenery along the trail to Crystal Crag, M...
Mammoth Crest from Macleod Lake.	Clouds over Mammoth Mountain and the Minarets, Sie...	Mammoth Mtn. from Lake Barrett, Mammoth Lakes Basi...
Boat dock at Lake George, Mammoth Lakes Basin.	One of the locals, Mammoth Lakes Basin.	On the way to Sky Meadows, Mammoth Lakes Basin.
Double Nut Brown Ale from Mammoth Brewing. Photo b...	Epic IPA from Mammoth Brewing. Photo by Blitzo.	Paranoid Pale Ale. Photo by Blitzo.
Sunset over Mammoth	Sunrise from parking lot at Clark Canyon.	The Minarets, Mt Ritter and Banner from the slopes...
Old mine workings in the hills above Mammoth Lakes...	Wildflowers on Panorama Dome with the Mammoth Cres...	Ominous stormy skies above Mammoth Rock.
The head of Convict Lake	Mt Morrison catching the last rays of sun