Mammoth Mountain is best known for being one of the premier ski resorts in California. However, the area offers numerous other outdoor activities as well as some must-see sights for photographers.
Top Places to Photograph:
​ Scenic 395 Highway This highway to Mammoth from Southern California offers many beautiful stopping-off points for photographing. The highway goes from the desert to the mountains and is situated in a valley below the High Sierras. The highway passes the quaint towns of Lone Pine and Bishop which have a laid-back Western feel. The highway also passes many cattle and horse farms, lakes- including Owens Lake, and of course- Mount Whitney which is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Lake Mary This peaceful and pristine lake offers scenic views of the granite peaks of Mammoth Mountain. It is also a popular spot for fishing and boating, but I opted for kayaking. This is where I spotted my second bald eagle sighting.
June Lake
Every lake in Mammoth has its own personality. This lake is at a lower elevation and features a small beach for swimming. It is also less touristy than the Mammoth Lakes area, since it is located on the outer perimeter of the area about 20 miles up the Scenic 395 Highway.
Devils Postpile National Monument
This monument is within Mammoth lakes and is truly a gem. It is about 7 miles down the Northern part of the mountain, reachable by car before 7am and after 7pm, or via a bus during the day. I went after 7pm in order to avoid the crowds, although this was cutting it close for good photography. The area is restricted due to its popularity and also because there is a one lane road which takes visitors to the site. There is a quarter mile scenic hike to the Postiple along a beautiful stream and trees that were covered in yellow fall foliage. The Postpile itself is some of the most interesting rock formations I have seen. Formed by volcanic lava and glaciers, the rocks are formed into symmetrical column posts. Visitors can hike to the top of the Postpile or to the nearby Rainbow falls. To purchase the photography from this trip, visit here. Comments are closed.
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We are two adventurous young professionals who turned our passion for travel into a blog to help others travel more.
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