[Brown_Teeth]

Any riding or it is it a family vaca? Hope its the former:thumbsup:

 

[bankerboy]

No go for the postpile. It is a national monument.

However, there is that little place just to the east. I think it is called Mammoth or something.....

 

[MTP]

Scoped out Devil's Postpile last summer...while visiting Mammoth. The mandatory bus ride to the trailhead for the pile runs along a very steep road with huge drops. A bit hair-raising. Bring insect repellent too...the mosquitoes were thick on the hike. Cool rock formation though.

I recommend staying in the new Westin at Mammoth, right next to the shuttle stop in the village.

 

[HarryCallahan]

maybe?

I think you'd have to climb out of the valley Devil's Postpile is in to go any distance. As others have noted, the road in and out is closed to private autos 12 hours a day, unless you are going in to camp. But you can bike in or out at any time.

Devil's Postpile itself is a national monument, but it is surrounded by National Forest. In some directions, you hit wilderness boundaries pretty quickly. And you are down in the San Joaquin River canyon, which cuts a big, deep swath through the Sierras.

 

[Brown_Teeth]

I think you'd have to climb out of the valley Devil's Postpile is in to go any distance. As others have noted, the road in and out is closed to private autos 12 hours a day, unless you are going in to camp. But you can bike in or out at any time.

Devil's Postpile itself is a national monument, but it is surrounded by National Forest. In some directions, you hit wilderness boundaries pretty quickly. And you are down in the San Joaquin River canyon, which cuts a big, deep swath through the Sierras.

We are camping there so we will be bring bikes and do some exploring... also will bring a big tub of insect repellent:thumbsup:

 

[HarryCallahan]

Mosquito repellent is always a good call for spring and early summer camping in the Sierras. The mosquitoes are the price for green grass and wildflowers. Usually by mid August all the little ponds have dried up, and there have been a few frosty nights, so the mosquito population drops way off. Try to pick a campsite away from willows and marshy areas. Dry, rocky, a little breezy helps cut down the problem.

On the riding front, a guy I work with has been to Mammoth a few times with his bike, and I've been there more than a few times both summer and winter. I've got no info on riding where you are camping, other than my earlier post, except to add that from maps, it appears you could get in a few legal miles down in the valley you'll be camping in. Up out of the valley, it is my understanding there are trails around the town and in the forest outside the resort bike park. There is also a trail from the Mammoth Lakes area that drops down the Old Mammoth area. That's on the other side of the mountain. It would be cool to be able to loop all the way around the mountain, but I think you have to buy a bike park pass.

I also recall threads suggesting the possibility of going cross-country towards June Lake, but that might be a wilderness poach.

Oh, a couple other things: the gondola ride to the top is very scenic, and they've got a snack bar up top. You can ride the gondola back down or hike down various ways, in addition to riding off the top. And they've got fun stuff for kids at the main lodge - climbing walls and zip lines.

 

[dstepper]

I think they allow you to drive down if you are fishing and have a float tube.

Dean

 

[MTP]

I think they allow you to drive down if you are fishing and have a float tube.

You're right. There are some private cars allowed. For example, there's a campground with a store and all at the bottom of the valley at the end of the road. I can't recall the name of it, but it's at the turnaround.

 

[Salespunk]

Look up Lower Rock Creek. It is a bit of a drive, but definitely worth it.

 

[ocd]

take a rod

definitley take a fishing rod.