ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAMMOTH LAKES W/ PETS

I’d like to start by saying that my visit to mammoth was during the end of summer (mid September), so If you are heading here during another season, you might have a very different experience with vastly different circumstances to consider.

Now let’s get o the nitty gritty of Mammoth with pets!

Accommodations:

• AirBNB - This is the route we went for this particular trip. I must say that if you book an airbnb, make sure to ask your potential host which floor the property is and if there are elevators because Mammoth Lakes is at a high elevation and shuttling Fido up & down the stairs frequently for potty breaks, when the air is thin and you can’t breathe just existing, makes the frequent use of stairs kind of an inconvenience. I found that most airbnbs here were multilevel condos with no elevators. Keep in mind that elevation doesn’t care about your fitness level, it has nothing to do with being in or out of shape.

• The Westin, Monache Resort - A classic 4 star pet friendly resort with all the bells and whistles

• Convict Lake Resort - Pet friendly cabins set in nature with a restaurant, WiFi & free self parking

Food:

• Cafe Crepe Big Bear: Food truck with outdoor seating and some shade vegan & gluten free options available. Pet friendly! In fact, they even have a pet bowl option.

• The Mammoth Smoke Shack: This is literally a little food shack with delicious food for all dietary preferences/requirements! There is one small, outdoor table with shade to eat at or you can also do takeout.

• Of course there are many other restaurants to try out but I can’t personally vouch for them because we cooked at our airbnb for all of our other meals. There is a Von’s in town with an excellent produce section, so we were thrilled to cook at the airbnb.

Pet Friendly Hikes:

1. *Rainbow Falls Vía Devils Postpile

   Rated: Moderate

   Trail Length: 4.9 miles out & back

   Elevation Gain: 534 feet

2. Inyo Craters Trail

   Rated: Easy

   Trail Length: 1.6 mile loop

   Elevation Gain: 314 feet

3. Duck Lake Via Emerald Lake Trail

   Rated: Hard

   Trail Length: 7.5 miles out & back

   Elevation Gain: 1814 feet

4. Convict Lake Loop

   Rated: Easy

   Trail Length: 2.5 mile loop

   Elevation Gain: 180 feet

5. Sky Meadows Trail

   Rated: Moderate

   Trail Length: 3.6 miles out & back

   Elevation Gain: 935 feet

There are actually a ton of pet friendly hikes in this region, I selected these 5 because they were on my radar and/or I had experience with them. Please remember to follow the “leave no trace” principles to help keep nature beautiful and accessible for years to come. Also be sure to be mindful of your pets needs while out and about. Think ahead and remember water/bowl, tick kit, etc. for them too.

Friendly Tips:

• Acclimatize yourself to higher elevations in the months/weeks prior to your visit because your plans can end up changing drastically if you’re experiencing the symptoms of elevations sickness, even mildly.

• *Hike #1 requires you to take a shuttle to the trailhead. You purchase your tickets online and then pick them up at the adventure center the day before your hike. This is also where you will pick up your shuttle on hike day. Ticket information—-> HERE

• *If you are bringing a fur baby to hike #1, it will need to be muzzled during the shuttle ride or contained in a fully enclosed carrying backpack if it’s a small dog/cat. This is a hard rule, you will not be allowed on the shuttle if your dog isn’t muzzled or enclosed.