Mammoth Lakes lies in California’s Sierra
Mountains. Surrounded by a backdrop of fragrant
pines and majestic peaks, the lakes are some of
California’s finest paddling gems. In the
typical winter, there could be over 100 inches
of snow on the mountains, but it’s never too
early to plan a summer trip here. The Mammoth
Lakes Basin is located on the eastern slope of
the Inyo National Forest at a 9000’ foot
elevation, off of Interstate 395 and Highway
203.
Lake Mary is the largest lake in the Mammoth
Lakes basin. It is a popular spot for
kayaking and canoeing. Some individuals
enjoy exploring the water on a standup
paddle board,
When you’re not fishing and
paddling here, you’ll find plenty of hiking
trails to enjoy as you take in the view. It
is also a popular kayak fishing spot, but not
nearly as popular as nearby Twin Lakes.
Lake Mary is planted with 32,000 rainbow
trout by both the Department of Fish and
Game and by Alper’s Ranch hatcheries. During
the summer, Alpers trout are planted quite
often as well. All four of these lakes are
“must see” destinations.
There are ten lakes in the basin which
consist of Lake Mary, Lake Mamie, Lake
George, Crystal Crag, McCloud, Twin,
Barrett, TJ, and Horseshoe Lake. Lake Mary,
George, Mamie, Horseshoe and Twin Lakes are
the only lakes accessible by a vehicle that
don’t require you to portage your kayak or
canoe. All the lakes in the Mammoth Lakes
Basin allow paddling.
However, Horseshoe Lake is closed to camping
and paddling because carbon dioxide gas has
been detected in its vicinity. Inhaling high
concentrations of carbon dioxide, gas can
cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and death.
Extreme care should be taken to prevent
children and dogs from digging up loose soil
that has been placed in the pits.
Care
should also be taken to avoid a crack 1-2
feet wide that extends from the lake onto
the west shore. Do not lie face down on the
ground anywhere near Horseshoe Lake or the
tree-kill area.
Map of Lake Mary
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