Southern California - recommend me a route(s) near Mammoth

[this is cross-post from NorCal forum]

Hello from NorCal :)

I'm planning a trip to Mammoth around July 4th.
One of the things I'll take with me this time would be road bike.

So, I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for a ride or rides (I'll be there for 4 days). Something within 50-70 miles of range from town of Mammoth Lakes.

Thank you! :)

[this is cross-post from NorCal forum]

Hello from NorCal :)

I'm planning a trip to Mammoth around July 4th.
One of the things I'll take with me this time would be road bike.

So, I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for a ride or rides (I'll be there for 4 days). Something within 50-70 miles of range from town of Mammoth Lakes (my wife is going with me and she'll probably join me for the ride, but I doubt she'll be able to ride more than that).

Thank you! :)

I'm in Sacramento right now and heading to Tahoe Lake tomorrow and after that we're on our way to Mammoth to finish up my vacation with my daughter, so no bikes, but if you don't get any response, I would go to Google maps and look at the area. I would think there are plenty of places to ride...but I have no idea if the roads are wide enough.

Tell you what, if you remember, PM me this weekend to remind me, and when I get there in a couple of days I'll try to remember to scout out the roads we're traveling on (in the car) and at least let you know what to avoid and also some that I would like to ride on.

The Eastern Sierra Double rides some nice roads around there. Maybe you can find one of the old route slips.

riding out around the owens valley is really nice. you can park at the green church on 395 and head north. the road has like one stop sign in 60 miles or something. no big climbs or anything, but it's beautiful and peaceful, as long as it's not too hot.

I highly recommend the June Lake Loop, it was one of my favorites when I lived up there. Take the back road out of Mammoth Lakes, it cuts off from the road up to Mammoth Mountain (can't remember the name right now). Head north on 395, then cut off on the June Lake Loop. About 55 miles out and back. 395 is nice and wide.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2013699

It's also very scenic (and demanding) to ride from the town of Mammoth, up to Mammoth Mountain resort, then down to Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow, then back up and over Mammoth Mountain to the city. Be sure to stop and do the 1/2 mile hike to Devils Postpile, it's really cool if you've never seen it before. The ride is probably less than 25 miles, but lots of elevation. The road down can be a little tight, but it's closed to public traffic.

I highly recommend the June Lake Loop, it was one of my favorites when I lived up there. Take the back road out of Mammoth Lakes, it cuts off from the road up to Mammoth Mountain (can't remember the name right now). Head north on 395, then cut off on the June Lake Loop. About 55 miles out and back. 395 is nice and wide.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2013699

It's also very scenic (and demanding) to ride from the town of Mammoth, up to Mammoth Mountain resort, then down to Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow, then back up and over Mammoth Mountain to the city. Be sure to stop and do the 1/2 mile hike to Devils Postpile, it's really cool if you've never seen it before. The ride is probably less than 25 miles, but lots of elevation. The road down can be a little tight, but it's closed to public traffic.

+1 to all that. plust lake mary road from town to the upper lakes basin, then back down and up minaret road to the ski area. good climbing and yer never far from town. the "scenic route" is also a good way to get from town out to 395 and then over to the june loop. if yer feeling climb-y, you could also climb tioga pass out of lee vining. have fun and post pics later!

All great suggestions. One thing I'd like to add; when I was there I discovered how fast that elevation really gets to you in the first day or so! First couple of miles and climbs left me gasping for air! Adapted quickly, though.

However when I returned home to sea level after a week in the Sierras, I felt like superman on the local rides....well...for at least the first day!

Great!
Thanks, guys!

Most of these have been mentioned but with more details

1. Mammoth Lakes to Crowley. Take the roads down to the 395, down to the green church (riding on 395 is fine, very wide shoulders). Left at the church, then just follow that road all the way down and around the lake (the last two times I've ridden this we rode by Deena Kastor, Olympian marathoner, training up there). There is a decent climb up to the intersection of (i think) Owens Gorge road. We have turned there. You can go further, that's the route of the century mentioned above. This is mostly down going out then a nice climb going back. About 56 miles, map at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2864120, profile is:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=2864120&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227



2. June Lake loop - haven't done it, but it's supposed to be pretty epic. I was advicsed by a local if I did it to avoid the back route out of town, lots of pressure cracks make the ride really tough. Same route as above, go left at the 395, think it's around 60 but lots of elevation

3. Mammoth to Reds Meadow - I've ridden from Mammoth Lakes to Minaret, but the backside was closed so I came back down. Passing the 9,000 foot elevation marker is breathtaking. Literally. As for the backside, it's not technically closed to traffic, as large shuttle buses use it, and people that camp back there can drive. It's a windy, one lane road at parts, not for the squeamish.

Town to Minaret Vista profile
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/chart/get.mb?xy.domain=totalDistance&xy.ranges=elevation&xy.histogram=false&xy.legendVisible=false&xy.primaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.secondaryRangeAxisVisible=true&xy.rangeTitlesVisible=true&xy.domainAxisVisible=true&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&episodePk.pkValue=2864123&xy.plotForegroundOpacity=0.75&xy.autoFit=true&xy.width=340&xy.height=227


4. Twin/Mary lakes - I missed it, but my friends rode up from town and around the lakes and said it was great.

It's also very scenic (and demanding) to ride from the town of Mammoth, up to Mammoth Mountain resort, then down to Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow, then back up and over Mammoth Mountain to the city. Be sure to stop and do the 1/2 mile hike to Devils Postpile, it's really cool if you've never seen it before. The ride is probably less than 25 miles, but lots of elevation. The road down can be a little tight, but it's closed to public traffic.[/QUOTE]

That is a really nice little ride. I did it last summer after doing Horseshoe Meadows the day before and was still tired from that but it's so beautiful down at Reds Meadows you won't feel the pain. No car traffic but they are allowing some big buses on that narrow road. They travel it all day long so the drivers know it well though and are careful of others on the road.They don't charge bikes the vehicle fee which is cool.