Mammoth Lakes has activities for every season, and most of them involve being outside and moving.
Skiing and snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain dominate from November through spring. The resort has 28 lifts, runs for every level, and an annual snowfall that regularly exceeds 400 inches. The top elevation is 11,053 feet, and on clear days you can see across the Great Basin into Nevada. For cross-country skiing, Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Area on Twin Lakes Road offers groomed track skiing through the forest.
Mountain biking takes over in summer. The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park uses the ski resort infrastructure — gondola, chairlifts — to give riders access to over 80 miles of trails from beginner-friendly flow trails to technical downhill runs. Rentals and lessons are available at the base.
Hiking is superb in all directions. The most popular day hike is to Rainbow Falls via the Devil's Postpile area, accessible by shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Inn in summer. The John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail both pass through the region, offering multi-day options. Duck Lake, Crystal Lake, and the Mammoth Lakes Basin trails are all worth doing.
Fishing draws serious anglers to the Mammoth Lakes Basin — five lakes within a few miles of town, plus the San Joaquin River and Hot Creek (a spring-fed stream popular for fly fishing). Trout season runs from late April through November.
Golf at the Sierra Star Golf Club is a scenic option in summer — a full 18-hole course at altitude, with mountain views on every hole.
The Mammoth Museum, housed in a historic log cabin on Sherwin Creek Road, tells the story of the town's mining and ranching past. Small but worth an hour.