Coldwater Creek and Historic Gold Mine Mountain Bike Trail

About the ride...

In the summer the Mammoth Lakes Basin is a recreation intensive area with unsurpassed scenic beauty. Trailheads offer direct access to the backcountry-namely the John Muir Trail Wilderness Area. Because the area is serviced by longstanding pack stations/trips (horse and mule), and is utilized by numerous backpackers and hikers, fisherman, campers, etc., the area offers very limited off-road mountain biking. But the Basin does offer all levels of riders a very pleasurable experience.

Tlre ride begins at Horseshoe Lake at the far end of the parking lot at the John Muir wilderness sign at the Mammoth Crest trailhead. From there the ride will access the dirt trail behind Horseshoe Lake, then the dirt trail past Lake Mamie, along the paved road behind Lake Mary to Coldwater Canyon, up the canyon to the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine. After a stop at the gold mine, the ride will continue down the canyon, around Lake Mary to the Lake Mary Road, down the road to the Panorama Dome Trail.

The Panorama Dome Trail is a narrow dirt single path trail that is somewhat technical. The trail offers riders a spectacular overview of Mammoth Lakes and an excellent wildflower display. After the Panorama Dome loop, riders will return to Town via the Mill City Road and Old Mammoth Road.

Beginner riders can opt out of the Panorama Dome and Mill City portions by returning to Horseshoe Lake from Lake Mary.

About Horses and Mountain Bikes... Over a decade ago, when mountainbikers first encountered horses on the trail, the incompatibility became evident. The swift, quiet approach of a mountainbike upon a horse or pack train can put the animal riders in jeopardy of being thrown. Especially vulnerable are novice animal riders.

Recognizing this, the Forest Service outlawed bikes on trails frequented by pack animals. In the Mammoth area, because of the close proximity to the John Muir Trail, mountain biking was outlawed on many backcountry trails. This policy is enforced.

Meanwhile, the Mammoth area has endless miles of forest management roads that are little used and superb for mountain biking.