Mammoth Camping

[Flat Broke]

Hey all,

My brother and I were going to head up to Mammoth to do some lift serviced riding. Our family has tons of timeshare points, so we usually just call up RCI, tell em where we want to stay and go on our way. Not the case this time around as there were no available units through the end of September. So since I wasn't budgeting for renting a condo, a sage MTBer said, "just go camping". So what I'm lookin for is basically a no frills campsite close to the hill where we can lay some tents down, throw back some beers and B.S. at the days end. I'm savy with bear precautions and the logistics of camping in the mountains, I just need some recommendations on good campsites close to the hill. I know some of you have been up there recently, so I'm hoping I can get some solid info.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[allison]

Originally Posted by mechmann

don't know about camping, but the "stay and play" deal at the Mammoth Mtn Inn is pretty kick butt!

Definitely not on the same expense level as camping, though.

FB - Check out the FS website as it lists many campgrounds in the area. There are a few by the lakes north? of town, and there was another campground I was looking at a few streets off of Main Street. You'll still have to drive to get to the Village or the Main Lodge for riding, but won't be more than a few miles.

[spookydave]

I went from a middle aged, slighty (haha) over weight MTBer to a "a sage MTBer".

whoohoo! (I think)

Oh, I'm going to Mammoth! WhooHoo!!

And,,,, I'm broke but do have enough money for:
Beer
Lift tickets for a few days
beer
lil food
beer
campsite / hotel or what ever we end up with fee
beer
and my share of the gas to Mammoth!

WhooHoo!!

[Von-Skipp]

Originally Posted by Flat Broke

Hey all,

My brother and I were going to head up to Mammoth to do some lift serviced riding. Our family has tons of timeshare points, so we usually just call up RCI, tell em where we want to stay and go on our way. Not the case this time around as there were no available units through the end of September. So since I wasn't budgeting for renting a condo, a sage MTBer said, "just go camping". So what I'm lookin for is basically a no frills campsite close to the hill where we can lay some tents down, throw back some beers and B.S. at the days end. I'm savy with bear precautions and the logistics of camping in the mountains, I just need some recommendations on good campsites close to the hill. I know some of you have been up there recently, so I'm hoping I can get some solid info.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Yo, I've camped at Shady Rest which is basically in town. When your driving up towards town on the 203 its the campsitea on the right in the forest. There is an old and new Shady Rest. You need to call 4 days in advanced for reservations or they also have first come first serve campsites.

If you stay here at Shady Rest, you can bike to the North Villiage to buy bike park tix and hop on the shuttle.

[spookydave]

Originally Posted by Von-Skipp

Yo, I've camped at Shady Rest which is basically in town. When your driving up towards town on the 203 its the campsitea on the right in the forest. There is an old and new Shady Rest. You need to call 4 days in advanced for reservations or they also have first come first serve campsites.

If you stay here at Shady Rest, you can bike to the North Villiage to buy bike park tix and hop on the shuttle.

looks like a winner right there. close and 15 bones a night.

whoohoo!

[DieselSmoke]

I know of a few options.

As mentioned, the FS campgrounds by the lakes are a decent bet, and for tent sites you can usually find something open on a first come first server basis.

There's also a campground by the Mammoth MX track on the SW side of town. You take a dirt road off Meridian for a couple miles, and I've never seen that place full.

For a little more $$, but better showers and a murky pool, check out Mammoth Mtn RV park. It's on the main road before town.

And lastl, if you really want to stay in the forest, I know of a couple good spots North of the Mammoth turn off (near the scenic route) that you can pick your own spot and stay for free, just don't let the bears get the beer ! email me for more details if you want.

[Edog]

Need a Campsite Reservation?
Check out this cool web site. You can look up & reserve spots in all goverment campsites, also site maps & info. I wish I had found this sooner!


Find Camping - Recreation.gov

Shady Rest is listed here http://www.recreation.gov/nrrs/New_S...RS&parkId=3771

[Flat Broke]

Originally Posted by spookydave

I went from a middle aged, slighty (haha) over weight MTBer to a "a sage MTBer".

whoohoo! (I think)

Oh, I'm going to Mammoth! WhooHoo!!

Sage was just in reference to your usual good advice. You're old, but not that old And besides, you look like freaking Lance Armstrong standing between Ty and I

Camping works for me at $15/night or I'll check out that other stay and play deal, and we'll just cram into one room. Personally, I'd rather sleep in a tent and have more $$ for food and beer than sleep in a bed and be skimpin on meals, but my gut pretty much gives that one away.

I just picked up a new lid for the trip as I'm thinking a full face might be the "smart" play. I'm stoked fo' sho to be going, even if I have to scum dog it like I did when I was younger. I seemed to have more fun then anyhow.

Now if I could just get my rear brake dialed in.

Chris

[Sprockethead]

FB,

I would camp by the Mammoth Lakes area. Twin Lakes campground is pretty good sized and if you stay in Uppler Twin lakes, there are showers there. Lake Mary has shower facilities also. If you can camp around there, I'd choose that area cause it's close by to the main road and showers. It's right by Lake Mary and Lake Maime.

Lake George has some campsites, but I don't think they have showers. Coldwater (I think that's what it's called) is huge, it's just above Lake Mary on the far end. They don't have showers either, but all the sites have nice restrooms. If you camp in the Lake Basin area, DO NOT LEAVE FOOD OUT. You will get raided by the bears. Good luck!

[JustBike]

shady rest is definately nice but the whole mammoth area always has bears roaming around. Especially if food is left overnight. Maybe you can try devil's postpile campground. It's near the main lodge but it's down a hill.

[spookydave]

left over food. Now that's funny. haha
You guys don't know us to well. Trust me when I say, we'll eat all the dang food!! I didn't get this way by missing meals.

Bears, I aint scared of no bears. (until I see one I guess).

Anyway thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.

[Neccros]

Yeah my family has an RCI timeshare as well.... REALLY nice places to stay.... I know there are 2 locations in Whistler and I visited the one in Victoria BC a couple years ago..

I'm planning on going when I get back in the groove of riding...

Originally Posted by Flat Broke

Our family has tons of timeshare points, so we usually just call up RCI, tell em where we want to stay and go on our way. Not the case this time around as there were no available units through the end of September.