Mammoth Improvements: New Flights, Restaurants, Deals & Experiences

With a new slate of flights, several new restaurants, new on-mountain experiences and over $20M in improvements to Canyon Lodge, Mammoth Lakes continues to evolve as one of the world’s most visited mountain destinations.

Several new restaurants, each with a focus that’s new to the Mammoth Lakes food scene, round out what’s quickly becoming one of the better mountain destinations for food and drink. And with interest in back and side country skiing and riding on the rise, Mammoth Mountain is offering several ways to experience thousands of acres of accessible backcountry terrain.

Mammoth Lakes’ visitors will also benefit from three new flight routes, including new routes from LAX and Denver on United. Together, United’s flight routes to the Mammoth Lakes airport open easy connections from more than 100 markets, including flights from Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Phoenix, as well as international cities including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Toronto. FLIGHT SERVICE ● New daily, year-round service from LAX​ on United will begin on Dec. 1. The United service will replace the Alaska route to Mammoth Lakes from LAX. Seasonal service on United from San Francisco is back this year as well, and will begin on Dec. 19.

● New daily seasonal service from Denver​ will begin on Dec 19. It’s the first time that daily service has been offered to Mammoth from east of the Rockies.

● New seasonal service from Orange County ​on JetSuiteX will begin this winter. The JetSuiteX flight from Burbank will also resume seasonal service. Flying under the “public charter” designation, JetSuiteX flights allow travelers the ease and comfort of arriving to the terminal minutes before departure times. Increased legroom, no baggage fees and easy parking also come at a price that’s very competitive with commercial airlines.

WHAT’S NEW AT ​MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

● Canyon Lodge Phase 2​: The second phase of Canyon Lodge’s $20M renovation will begin spring 2019. The renovations include two flights of escalators, an expanded entryway, fully remodeled restrooms, enhancements to the parking areas, a complete remodel of the fourth floor dining facilities and the 3rd floor guest services area.

● Ikon Pass:​ Mammoth’s new season pass is one of the best deals around. In addition to unlimited season-long access to Mammoth, the Ikon Pass provides access to 27 destinations around the world, including unlimited access to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Big Bear Mountain Resort. For Californians, there’s never been a better season pass offering. Adult prices currently start at $699 for season-long access to Mammoth Mountain.

● Intro to Backcountry Clinics​: Taught by PSIA instructors and AMGA certified guides, Mammoth Mountain’s new Intro to Backcountry Touring class provides a perfect introduction to backcountry travel, covering touring & safety equipment, skinning, kick turns, downhill transitions, skating and downhill ski practice, all with instructor demos, evaluation and feedback. It’s the easiest and safest way to give touring a try.

● Sidecountry Tours:​ Mammoth is also offering sidecountry tours to Tamarack Lodge for the first time this year. Beginning at the summit gondola station and ending back at Main Lodge, this picturesque 3-hour tour is ideal an ideal backcountry refresher and great way to see the backside of the mountain.

● Uphill policy​: Mammoth also announced a new uphill policy that givers skiers and split boarders an approved uphill travel option from each of Mammoth’s three base areas (Main Lodge, Eagle Lodge and Canyon Lodge). A free uphill access ticket is required, and uphill travel is permitted only during operating hours (7:30a - 3p).

EVENTS

● U.S. Grand Prix​ - The best snowboarders and freeskiers in the world make their annual trip to the Eastern Sierra to compete in the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain. Set for March 3-9, 2019 this year’s Grand Prix is a great chance to see the next generation of talent in the first year of the new olympic cycle.

AMENITIES

● Elixir Superfood and Juice​: ​Fresh, clean food served quickly. That’s the idea behind Mammoth Lakes’ newest health-focused offering: Elixir Superfood and Juice. Located off Main Street next to Basecamp Cafe, Elixir’s menu of fresh cold-pressed organic juices, blended smoothies, signature salads and grain bowls is the guilt-free way to charge up for a day exploring.

● The Warming Hut Restaurant​: Owners Paul and Alisa Harper’s “scratch kitchen” serves a menu of completely homemade breakfast and lunch fare. A large selection of pancakes and breakfast hashes along with a classic reuben highlight the menu. The Warming Hut menu also includes some ketogenic and diet-friendly items along with smoothies and a signature grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. Located on Old Mammoth Rd.

● First Chair Food Truck:​ Inspired by his world travels, the First Chair food truck is the brainchild of chef “Powder” Dan Molnar. Typically parked in the Footloose Sports lot, Powder Dan starts the day off with breakfast burritos and sandwiches transitioning midday to lunch specialties including a tasty bahn mi and a mayan-inspired pork sando. First Chair is a great spot to grab your daily adventure fuel.