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Mammoth Mountain offers the best spring skiing in the country with shredding through May, reduced lift and lodging rates, and sunshine.

Spring skiing breezes through the end of May, and often into summer, at the Mammoth Mountain ski area in California. With its location in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mammoth gets more than 400 inches (33 feet) of snow every year. That means you can carve turns until wildflowers replace snowy slopes. That’s just one of 8 reasons to go spring skiing in Mammoth Mountain.

8 Reasons To Go Spring Skiing in Mammoth Mountain

Not only did I learn to ski in Mammoth as a kid, but it’s also where my children learned to ski. We return often to ski our favorite runs and to challenge ourselves on steeper trails. That’s easy to do at Mammoth, aptly named for its 11,053-foot-high summit, more than 3,500 acres of ski-able terrain, and 28 lifts. The long spring season is especially fun because we can dress in light layers and often without jackets. In fact, the town of Mammoth Lakes refers to this season as “swinter,” which means winter and summer. It’s when you can spend your mornings on the slopes and your afternoons on the lake. Snow, sun, and seasonal events mean there are many great reasons to enjoy the best spring skiing in Mammoth.

The author (right) and her childhood friend, Dana, enjoy annual spring ski trips together in Mammoth. Photo courtesy of Mimi Slawoff

Long Spring Skiing Season

Skiing in May? You bet! Sunshine, snow, deals, and fun events are great reasons to go spring skiing in Mammoth. The roads are clear and the slopes have snow—sometimes even a few fresh flurries. It’s fun to ski in light clothing (think T-shirts) and enjoy the fresh mountain air. In swinter, seasonal events take place on the mountain—some at the summit, accessible via gondola. A couple of years ago, my friend Dana and I attended a twilight summit event and were wowed by the spectacular sunset colors.

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Insider tip: Enjoy the sunshine but remember to slather on the sunscreen. The best time to ski is morning to early afternoon. After that the snow may be slushy.

Springtime sunset view from the summit. Photo by Mimi Slawoff

Lift Ticket Deals

By early April, lift tickets and lodging rates drop, making spring skiing in Mammoth a great time to hit the slopes. In general, daily lift tickets can be expensive. But there are many ways to save. For example, you can save 20 percent on the window rate when you buy tickets online early. You’ll save even more with multi-day tickets. And of course, mid-week rates are less than weekend rates. The Ikon Pass is great if you plan to ski several times each year.

Spring skiing brings lowered ticket prices. Photo courtesy of Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Scenic Gondola Rides

You don’t have to be a skier to reach the summit for lunch with a view. For a fee, the Panorama Gondola brings passengers from the Main Lodge to the summit. Kids ages 12 and younger ride free with each paying adult. Once at the summit, enjoy a meal with panoramic views at the Eleven53 Café. There’s also an interpretive center with exhibits that feature local history and geology. Be sure to step outside for a short walk to Mammoth Mountain’s famous totem sign. It’s a traditional place to take a photo and enjoy the beautiful views of the Minarets and beyond.

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Take a photo at the summit. Photo by Dana Popoff Schmole

Ride the Village Gondola

Whether you ski or just want to grab lunch on the mountain, the free Village Gondola is a convenient way to access Canyon Lodge. There you can rent ski and snowboard gear, book lessons, and buy tickets. The lodge also has a café, bar, sports shop, and a large outdoor space to enjoy mountain views. It’s a perfect place to rendezvous with friends and family for lunch or après-ski drinks.

The Village gondola is a scenic and convenient way to reach Canyon Lodge. Photo by Mimi Slawoff

Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing

Mammoth is also known for cross country skiing. The Tamarack Lodge offers 19 miles of cross-country and snowshoe trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts. Although my daughter Christina and I had done cross country skiing before, it had been many, many years. We had so much fun! We started out on the training tracks before gliding to the beginner terrain around the Twin Lakes area. You can buy tickets, rent gear, and book rooms at Tamarack Lodge.

Tamarack Lodge offers miles of nordic ski trails. Photo courtesy of Mimi Slawoff

Après-Ski Fun

Everyone knows that après-ski is a big part of the ski culture. In fact, some people seem to spend more time on sunny decks with a drink than on the slopes! But for me, I enjoy a full day of skiing so I can earn an Elderberry Cosmos or a locally brewed beer. There’s no shortage of fun bars. My favorites include the ski lodges—Main, Canyon, and Eagle. In the Village, I like the Side Door Wine Bar & Café, and Shelter Distilling (great food too!). Another favorite is Mammoth Brewing, around the corner from the Village.

A local brew on a sunny deck at the Yodler Restaurant & Bar caps off a great day of spring skiing in Mammoth. Photo by Mimi Slawoff

Spring Skiing Events

Locals like to have fun on the mountain and visitors are welcome to join or watch. Events vary. Some are low-key and include live music on weekends at Canyon Lodge. This year features a Caldera Burn and a Pond Skim. The Caldera Burn (scheduled for April 16) starts at Canyon Lodge and features ski mountaineering.

The Pond Skim (scheduled for April 17) also takes place at Canyon Lodge. Costumed skiers and snowboarders straight-line it across an ice-cold pond that’s over 100 feet long.

The Pond Skim challenges costumed skiers and snowboarders to cross a cold pond. Photo courtesy of Dakota Snider

Explore the Village at Mammoth

The Village is a pedestrian-only area in Mammoth Lakes. A destination in itself, the Village has condos, restaurants, bars, shops, and various events. It’s also where you can board a gondola to Canyon Lodge. Mammoth’s shuttles stop at the Village to transport people to various places including the slopes.

Westin Monache Resort

On our recent visit to Mammoth, we stayed at the Westin Monache Resort, located by the Village and gondola. That made it very convenient to find good places to eat and drink. Our cozy one-bedroom suite had a living room with a sofa bed, a kitchenette, and a balcony with pool and mountain views. The hotel has two hot tubs, an outdoor heated pool, a fitness room, and a restaurant. After a day of skiing, nothing feels better than soaking in a bubbling hot tub.

The Westin offers various room options with mountain views. Photo by Mimi Slawoff

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Getting to Mammoth

Mammoth is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Los Angeles. The mountain town’s small Mammoth Yosemite Airport has flights from designated airports in California. Once in Mammoth, getting around is easy. Mammoth has a convenient shuttle system (usually free depending on hours) that goes to the Main Lodge, Canyon Lodge, Eagle Lodge, and Tamarack Lodge. In addition, free shuttles travel around town. In fact, once we park at our hotel or condo, we never drive until we leave.