Every time we visit Mammoth Lakes, we’ve keep noticing a cool bike trail that runs along the main road. We always saw the cyclists zipping down the hill and it looked super fun! This time, we decided to bring our own bikes and try out this trail. Lakes Basin Bike Path is a beautiful, paved trail that stretches from downtown Mammoth Lakes, winds through series of gorgeous lakes, and ends up at Horseshoe Lake. Although it is paved, this trail requires a moderate fitness level and a bike with a set of really good brakes. If you’re looking for a fun adventure, biking down Lakes Basin Bike Path is definitely a must-do!
Stats
Where
🚲 STARTING POINT
Intersection of Lake Mary Road and Minaret Road near the Village at Mammoth
Coords: 37°38’53.1″N 118°59’00.0″W
Shuttle Stop:
Lake Basin Trolley
near the bottom of the stairs to the Westin Monache Resort
Coords: 37°38’58.3″N 118°59’07.0″W
Time: 9am – 6pm daily
🚲 END POINT:
Horseshoe Lake
Coords: 37°36’46.7″N 119°01’15.9″W
Parking
There are parkings at both starting and end points.
Restroom
Bathrooms and water are available at the Twin Lakes General Store
Fee
The trail and the use of the trolley are free.
Weather
Distance
5.3 miles one way
Elevation Change
About 1000ft
Level
Moderate
Time:
2-3 hours
Pet-friendly
Dogs are allowed on trail. If you’re hiking this trail, please make sure to pay attention to cyclists, especially downhills ones.
Ideal Weather
Calm, cooler days. It can be challenging during a rainy, windy day.
Ideal Time
Summer is best. If you’re planning to take the shuttle, it usually runs from late May through early September. Also, make sure to budget your time around the shuttle run time. Mornings will give plenty of time to enjoy the trail and all of its scenic points.
Video
Route Options:
Option 1:
There are a few route options to experience the gorgeous Lakes Basin Path. If you’re a super beast and/or love a good challenge, you can actually ride the paved trail in both directions. The whole thing is about 10.6 miles with 1000ft in elevation change. This is a steep and steady climb that begins at an altitude of 8,000ft to over 9,000ft of elevation. If you have or will be renting an electric bike, this hill shouldn’t be an issue. Just make sure to obey the speed limit of 15mph.
Option 2
For us mortals, luckily, there is the FREE Lakes Basin Trolley that runs from the Village at Mammoth, all the way to Horseshoe Lake. All trolleys have bike trailers so you can take your bikes with you. The trolley stops for the trolley are located near the bottom of the stairs to the Westin Monache Resort and also at the Horseshoe Lake parking lot. There are also multiple stops along the route, in case you decide to cut your ride short.
Many riders, including us, leave the car near the trolley stop at the village, take the trolley to Horseshoe Lake and ride our bike back down the hill. You can also leave your car at Horseshoe Lake, ride downhill to the trolley stop at Westin Monache, and take the trolley back up. If you choose to take the trolley at the end of your adventure, make sure to pay attention to the time. The trolley runs from 9 am to 6 pm daily. If you don’t want to take the free trolley, you can either do a car shuttle or use a local taxi service for the ride back.
Safety and Precautions
To make your adventure fun and safe, there are a few safety precautions you should know:
- It is a steep downhill, please make sure your bikes have really good brakes. Also, it is important that you are comfortable with braking and steering your bike.
- Please make sure to yield for uphill riders.
- Make sure to obey the speed limit, usually around 15 mph.
- Although Lakes Basin Path is mainly a bike trail, many families and pets also hike along this trail. Therefore, it is important to watch out and yield to pedestrians.
- Never assume that cars will stop for you. Always come to a full stop at road crossings.
- There are a few places along the trail where you may come across the horses. Always yield when you see them and follow the signed directions.
- Make sure to wear a helmet, bring plenty of water and snacks, and use sunscreen!
The Adventure
Getting There
Since we were staying at the Cinnamon Bear Inn, about 1 mile from the trolley stop at the village, we decided to ride our bike from there. Even though it was a short distance with moderate hills, neither of us were acclimated to the altitude. This short ride kicked our butts quite a bit. Luckily, once we got to the trolley stop, it was an effortless and smooth operation.
We got to our trolley stop at 9 am. It was just the two of us and another biker waiting. Once the trolley pulled in, we quickly loaded our bikes on top of the big bike trailer in the back. We love that you can ride this trolley for FREE, along with your bikes. The ride up the hill is quite pleasant. It would be fun to ride up this hill with an electric bike. However, with our mountain bikes, we were glad that we didn’t have to. After about a 30 minute ride, our trolley pulled into the big parking lot of Horseshoe Lake.
Riding to Twin Lakes
The downhill trail for Lakes Basin Path starts at the trolley stop. It is a paved bike path weaving through the main road. You also have an option of adding on a very beginner mountain bike trail that loops around Horseshoe Lake. We decided to combine the Horseshoe Lake trail with Lakes Basin Path to make it more fun. To do this, turn right toward the small parking lot right after the trolley stop, then continue on the dirt trail for Horseshoe Lake. This trail will eventually connect back to the paved Lakes Basin Path. At this fork, go right (straight) to cross over the main road to continue on the paved path down the hill.
From this point, Lakes Basin Path weaves through the trees to run alongside Lake Mary road all the way to Twin Lakes. There are a few bridges that you’ll have to cross along the way. Don’t forget to stop and check out the views. There were a few times when we got confused about where to go, however, it is easy to find the paved bike path again. There are signs along the way to let you know you’re going the right way.
At Twin Lakes
At Twin Lakes, we took a little detour down to the water edge. It was really pretty there. We got to see all the cute pups, baby ducks, and even a deer! Near the end of Twin Lakes, Lakes Basin Path Makes a right turn off of the road and leads into a small tunnel that crosses under Lake Mary road and continues on the other side of it. Once you get on the other side, don’t forget to look back at the beautiful backdrop behind you. It is quite stunning. Across the street is the Twin Lakes vista. We recommend crossing over for a quick look. It has a fantastic view of the lake against the nearby mountain range. There is a trolley stop here too if you just want to take the trolley back.
The Final Stretch
From Twin Lakes, the Lakes Basin Path runs directly alongside Lake Mary road, all the way down to the village. It seems like we picked up a lot more speed on this section of the trail. Even with using our brakes, our fastest speed was at 25mph. Therefore, please make sure to watch your speed and other pedestrians. Along the path, there are multiple viewpoints with benches. They are perfect for taking a break or just to take in the views. There is also another big tunnel that you’ll have to go under.
The trail ends at the corner of Lake Mary Road and Minaret Road. We love this bike ride more than we thought we would! It was so much fun taking the trolley and riding down the hill. The beautiful views are definitely a plus! If you’re visiting Mammoth Lakes, we definitely recommend doing this bike ride.
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
Always make sure to wear your bike helmet!
You don’t need bike gloves, but they are nice to have.
Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
You should always bring plenty of water. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.
For shorter hikes and adventures, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.
If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket
other things to bring
- Bicycles with good brakes and
- Sunglasses
- Closed-toes shoes
- Always good to bring some snacks with you. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
camera gear
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