Photo Credit  Arjun Varshney

Nestled in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, Mammoth Lakes is a premier outdoor destination. This picturesque basin is surrounded by fragrant pine forests and majestic peaks, offering some of the state's finest paddling opportunities. Winters here can bring over 100 inches of snow, but summer is an ideal time to visit, with the Mammoth Lakes Basin located at 9,000 feet elevation off Interstate 395 and Highway 203.

The largest lake in the basin is the popular Lake Mary, loved by kayakers, canoers, and stand-up paddleboarders. When not on the water, visitors can explore the many hiking trails with stunning vistas. Lake Mary is also a renowned kayak fishing spot, though nearby Twin Lakes attracts even more anglers.

In total, the Mammoth Lakes Basin contains ten lakes, including Lake Mamie, Lake George, Crystal Crag, McCloud, Twin, Barrett, TJ, and Horseshoe Lake. Of these, only Lake Mary, George, Mamie, Horseshoe, and Twin are vehicle-accessible, allowing paddlers to launch without portaging. All the basin's lakes permit paddling, though Horseshoe Lake is closed to camping and boating due to detected carbon dioxide gas.

Map of Lake Mary