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No matter what time of year you visit Mammoth Lakes, there are always plenty of things to do here. We’ve never heard of Mammoth Lakes until a friend suggested we visit as it’s one of the lesser-known areas in the Sierra Nevadas and it’s pet-friendly. Yosemite tends to get all the fame, which we completely understand why, but if you are already in the region, we think Mammoth Lakes is worth a visit; especially if you like to travel with your dogs.

We made our visit in the summer during the month of August and spent the weekend with our pups, Kuma and Zooey. Mammoth Lakes was indeed pet-friendly, so we were able to enjoy all the trails, lakes, and restaurants with our dogs.

Here are 7 pet-friendly things to do in Mammoth Lakes:

1. Convict Lake

You must make it a point to visit Convict lake at sunrise. It is one of the most dramatic lakes we have seen with an amazing colorful backdrop of the mountains. We were in awe of the colors and the reflection of the landscape on the lake. Not only will you get breathtaking views, but waking up early also gives you the perks of a prime parking spot and the place almost to yourself. We did see a few fishermen (the lake is well stocked with trout), but other than that, it was just us.

The name of this lake is quite the story and an unusual one. In 1871, a group of convicts escaped prison in Nevada and they took refuge close to the lake. They were eventually caught and thus the name, Convict Lake.

The pups enjoyed roaming around and Zooey even tiptoed around in the water for a bit. There is also a 2.5-mile trail that loops around the lake that seems to be popular as we saw many people starting their hike as we were leaving.

Margaret O’Leary Bomber Jacket — Margaret O’Leary **Bomber Jacket**

2. Lake Mary

This is the largest lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin and is popular for fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. We didn’t partake in any of the water activities, but we did enjoy exploring the surrounding areas. Parking here is a bit tricky if you are not located on one of the campsites because there is no dedicated parking lot (none that we saw anyway), so you will need to park on the side of the road. There were plenty of spots early in the morning and we had no trouble finding parking. Later in the day, at sunset, there are definitely more cars, but we still managed to find a spot on the side of the road.

Bandolier Utility Phone Strap // Margaret O’Leary Bomber Jacket — Bandolier Utility Phone Strap // Margaret O’Leary **Bomber Jacket**

We drove around Lake Mary and found the perfect spot to watch the colors of the sunrise reflecting on the mountains and lake. The dogs had such a great time chasing each other here since we had the place all to ourselves. Kuma and Zooey loved jumping over fallen trees, climbing on big rocks and dipping their paws in the quiet lake. We spent over an hour here because the pups loved it so much.

3. June Lake Beach

June Lake is another picturesque lake with a beach shore and shallow waters. Unlike the other lakes, we didn’t get here at sunrise, so this made it difficult to find parking as it is an extremely popular area. We were just about to give up when we got super lucky and scored a spot. If you’re patient and wait long enough, eventually, a spot will open.

Kuma loved the shallow waters and went for a nice swim and even got bold enough to jump on a huge rock that shocked us all. Zooey was having a fantastic time here too, but I had to eventually put her on a leash because she kept running off to greet people who were sunbathing or eating food. She’s super friendly and well behaved, but she can be a handful sometimes.

We saw many families kayaking, paddle boarding and barbecuing here. These families must have gotten here early because they were prepared with all their gear including a beach tent, chairs, tables, food and even a grill.

4. Wild Willy’s Hot Springs

This was by far the coolest sunset we experienced in the Mammoth Lakes area and perhaps of all the places we’ve ever visited. The hot springs are located down a graveled narrow path that literally feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. The walk down to the hot springs was absolutely gorgeous.

The walk to the hot springs is fairly short and only took about 10 minutes. We didn’t go into the hot springs as it was at full capacity, but we were expecting that since the pools are small and there are only a few. Plus we had the pups with us, so we were only here for the amazing views and short trek.

The pups really enjoyed their walk here and our jaws dropped when the sun began to set. The colors were constantly changing, and in the distance, a storm was brewing so that created a dramatic bright red, pink, and orange color that looked so unreal.

Parking here is pretty limited and there is one Porta Potty available in the parking lot. We highly suggest getting here before sunset to avoid the headaches of parking.

Spectacular sunset at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs

5. Hot Creek Geological Site

Hot Creek is commonly referred to as a mini Yellowstone in the Mono Lakes region. This was a quick stop we made on our way to Wild Willy’s Hot Springs. There was plenty of parking and it’s a short downhill walk to the creek.

View of Hot Creek Geological Site from the parking lot

We witnessed the fumaroles (gas vents) and the colorful sulfur deposits and formations. We even saw some steam coming up from a couple of the deposits. It’s said that there are periodic geyser eruptions here due to the hot magma that lies three miles below the surface of the earth in this area. You can only view the creek from afar since the area is fragile and unpredictable, but it’s still a neat site to see.

6. Twin Lakes

We took the pups here for a morning walk to view one of the popular overlooks in Mammoth. We saw a couple of fishermen here as well as people resting in hammocks and a man paddle boarding. We have never paddle boarded before, but felt like this would be the perfect place to do it while taking in the gorgeous views. There is a campground on site and several easy trails you can take too.

7. The Warming Hut

This is a cute little restaurant that was within walking distance from our hotel. They’re known for their homemade ketchup and excellent pancakes, which Crystal really enjoyed. They have a lovely shaded outdoor seating area where the dogs are welcome too.

Zooey trying to get extra treats from Crystal.

Final Thoughts

We could not have asked for a better weekend and the perfect weather in Mammoth Lakes. Even though it was summer, the mornings were crisp and the day temperatures were in the 80s since we are at a higher altitude. The pups definitely enjoyed exploring the lakes just as much as we did. There is plenty more to see and do here, so we’ll definitely have to make another visit.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at the Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa which was a fantastic location and pet-friendly accommodation. There were plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby and even the grocery store was conveniently located across the street from the hotel.

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