June Lake Loop
The rugged peaks that tower over the community of June Lake are just as impressive, if not more so, in the winter. With snow covering the mountaintops and frosting the surrounding forest, the town has a magical snow-globe feel.
Start your June Lake daytrip at June Mountain Ski Area. The resort has seven chairlifts that access 1,500 skiable acres of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain. With a laid-back vibe, the resort is a great place to make a few turns without the hustle and bustle of Mammoth Mountain.
Historic Benton Hot Springs
A daytrip to Benton Hot Springs is well worth the drive. The resort offers ten private hot tubs that are fed by natural hot spring water and can be reserved by the hour. The original redwood tubs accommodate two to three people, but many larger tubs are available for groups of four to eight. The 45-minute drive from Mammoth Lakes is full of stunning scenery too. You’ll drive along the base of the Glass Mountains, around the north shore of Crowley Lake, and get to see the White Mountains up close. Pack some snacks and head to Benton for a midday soak. Reservations are required.
Mono Lake
The large shallow saline lake is known for its stunning tufas, calcium formations created when the lake’s water dropped. But the lake is also a vital habitat and nesting ground for migratory birds. Located thirty minutes north of Mammoth Lakes, the lake is a great destination for a daytrip anytime of year.
Depending on the snow coverage, you can take a walk along the shore. Start your self-guided tour at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center. Then visit the Mono Lake County Park or South Lake Tufa Reserve. A variety of exhibits will help you understand what you are looking at. Check the schedule and join an interpretive program or event.
Bodie Historic State Park
Bodie State Historic Park is an entirely different place in the winter. The area is one of the coldest in the state and gets a decent snowpack each year, but the park remains open to visitors. If there is snow on the road, many people enjoy a cross-country ski tour or snowmobile ride in to the park. In a low snow year the road can be driven on. Bodie is a genuine gold-mining ghost town that had a population of 10,000 people in the late 1800s. Visitors can walk down the streets and look into windows of buildings that are preserved in a state of arrested decay. Check the road conditions before you head out (Enter 270 on the CalTrans site for the Bodie road conditions).
