
Saturday
Spend today exploring the Mammoth Mountain area, where locals swear by the protein-laden breakfasts at the Stove ($; 644 Old Mammoth Rd.; 760/934-2821). Pack lunch for an activity-filled day; the Good Life Café ($; 126 Old Mammoth Rd.; 760/934-1734) has healthy sandwiches.
Hike up. Boasting 40- to 60-foot-tall columns of blue-gray basalt, Devils Postpile National Monument (760/934-2289) is a visual reminder of this area’s volcanic past. To get there, hop on the shuttle bus ($7) that departs every 30 minutes from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, near the gondola. Then try the 2 1/2-mile hike past Devils Postpile and on to spectacular 101-foot Rainbow Falls.
And zoom down. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area’s excellent Mountain Bike Park (passes from $31, $64 including rental; 760/934-0706) has become required riding for knobby-wheel enthusiasts. More than 80 miles of lavalike single-track trails mean lots of good options for burly bunny hoppers and beginners alike.