This Mountainous California Lake Town Is A Spectacular Vacation Destination Year-Round

California's Sierra Nevada mountains are one of America's greatest natural playgrounds. This range of craggy, granite peaks rises from the earth like a sheer rock wall, and is home to alpine lakes, pine forests, and iconic national parks such as Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, where you can experience some of the tallest trees in the world.

The Sierra is also dotted with charming towns, such as this dazzling city that acts as a gateway to the region, as well as Mammoth Lakes. Named for the five alpine lakes within town limits, this settlement of just over 7,000 people is probably best known for its Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain ski areas, which — come winter — boast some of the best deep powder action in the western US.

That said, the natural paradise around Mammoth Lakes has plenty to offer year-round, with world-class hiking, camping, rock-climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, fly-fishing, bird and wildlife-watching, and plenty more. It's no wonder the residents of Mammoth Lakes are known for their outdoorsy spirit, and the town itself makes the perfect homebase for exploring the region, with top-notch hotels, cafes, bars, and eateries where you can recharge between taking big bites out of the unspoiled nature that surrounds it.

While indigenous people have called the eastern Sierra home for thousands of years, the town of Mammoth Lakes was incorporated in 1984, making it a very young place. However, settlers began arriving as far back as 1877, when gold was discovered, leading to a mini-rush. 

Today the only gold found in Mammoth Lakes is the wealth of natural treasures that attracts visitors far and wide. Chief among these are the five lakes that make up the Mammoth Basin — Lake Mary, Lake George, Lake Mamie, Horseshoe Lake, and Twin Lakes. These technically sit within the town's borders, and boast pristine, deep green water perfect for swimming, kayaking, and casting a fly-line. You can easily access all these lakes by car or the Mammoth town trolley, and when you see them in-person, sparkling perfectly in front of a backdrop of snowy peaks, you won't be able to resist the urge to snap photos. 

Hiking is the name of the game during the warmer months in Mammoth Lakes, which features a spider's web of trails easily accessed from town. These range from quick jaunts around the local lakes to multi-day treks into the high Sierra, as the Mammoth Lakes borders the John Muir Wilderness to the south and the Ansel Adams Wilderness to the west, both of which feature some of the finest alpine scenery California has on offer.

What really makes Mammoth Lakes a spectacular destination is its location. The town is within striking distance of myriad natural attractions, and high on that list is Devils Postpile National Monument. This columnar basalt rock formation rises to heights of 60 feet, with symmetrical towers that appear as if they're being pulled straight from the earth. 

Just a 2.5-mile hike from the Devils Postpile Ranger Station is the stunning Rainbow Falls. This massive cascade on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River plunges 101 feet and is named for the prisms created by its mist, especially at midday, when the sunlight hits it at the perfect angle. The hike to the falls takes you through open country and can be quite hot in the summer, so apply sunscreen and bring plenty of water.

Mammoth Lakes sits on the remote eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. It's at least a five-hour drive from Los Angeles and a little under three hours from Reno, Nevada. It gets busy in summer and winter, so make sure you book your accommodations ahead of time. For more of California's Sierra splendor, check out this secluded mountain town with stunning winter views.