So ... I just got back from a week of fishing at Rock Creek Lake and Rock Creek... my wife and I…read morealways choose this place because it gives us the option to fish the creek if the lake is slow. Cabin #2 is always fun because it's less than a minute from the creek and I always have good fishing experiences there. There's also the pond ... a 5 minute hike from the 1st bridge. The entire Rock Creek staff is always so friendly and welcoming, it's always so much fun so we never leave without making reservations for the following year. Here's a photo of my biggest catch so far!

Been going here for years and years Great food and great…read morepeople, I highly recommend this little shop

We went to the Snow park today we had a blast. It is about 1 hour away depending on the weather and…read morethe car you drive. Chains are needed if it snowing. This day it was snowing and we had to use them. We followed the signs and when we arrived it was not so many people there. It had a clear enough area to slide on small plastic disc sleds down the hill and walk back up. Small brush and trees did line the or skirts of the park. There is a restroom there. Not very pleasant but private. DRIVE SLOW. DRIVE CAREFULLY. DRIVE SMART. The weather is making the trip more complicated than a normal day. There are snow plows that clear the road frequently. It really helped make the road more safe and driveable. The snow surrounding shaver lake is so beautiful! Truly a scenic ride.

This is one of six snow parks within a half hour drive of each other. This one and the nearby…read moreCoyote Sno-Park are reportedly the best for sledding. We also visited Tamarak Sno-Park just five minutes up the road from Balsam, and it was beautiful, but was laid out with trails for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. You need a $5 pass to park at a Sno-Park, and you must buy it before you get there. Stop at Tom's in town before you head up the hill. We'd never heard of Sno-Parks, and didn't know what to expect. They're just forested areas where you might hike if the weather were warmer where you can safely park and use the restroom if you need to. There are areas for sledding, but they are natural hills will trees and streams and rocks. There are open areas (some are Forest Service roads) (no trucks in sight), but there are lots of little hills, too. In the spring when we were there the best hill we found ended in a stream so we had to jump off our sleds in order not to get wet. We did not snowshoe, but there were lovely less hilly spots where snow shoeing would be fun. Balsam had a few parking spots (maybe space for 8-10 cars?), so it'll fill up fast. Tamarak has a much larger parking lot. Sno-Parks exist, basically, so that people won't park on the side of the road. There is no trash removal, no lights or electricity, and no amenities like picnic tables. It's just a parking lot and a safe (and beautiful) place to play in the snow. We were there in early April, and the snow was spotty, but still we were able to find enough to sled until we were exhausted, build a snowman, and have a snowball fight. We stayed in Shaver Lake, but these Sno-Parks are close enough to Clovis and Fresno, that you could also drive up for the day.

This is review for the ski school. We had the pleasure of booking a private ski lesson with Drew…read moreHarris for our four kids and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Managing a group of kids with very different skill levels is no small task, but Drew handled it with patience, enthusiasm, and impressive skill. He quickly assessed where each child was at and tailored his guidance so everyone felt challenged while still having fun and building confidence on the mountain. Over the two days, Drew took the kids all over the mountain, helping them explore new terrain while always keeping safety front and center. His clear instructions and practical tips made a noticeable difference in their skiing, and it was great to see their progress even within a short time. Drew has a great way of explaining technique in a way kids understand, which helped them improve without feeling overwhelmed. One of the highlights for the kids was spending time in the ski park, where Drew showed them some fun tricks and helped them try new things safely. He struck the perfect balance between encouraging them to push their limits and making sure they stayed in control and confident. By the end of the lessons, all four kids were excited about how much they had learned and couldn't stop talking about their favorite runs. We're incredibly grateful for the experience and would highly recommend Drew Harris to other families looking for a fantastic ski instructor. His ability to manage multiple levels, keep kids engaged, and make learning fun made these two days on the mountain truly memorable.

The crowds here are on another level. One morning we got to the main lodge at 7am and there were…read morealready tons of cars parked down Minaret Road and we ended up having a ways to walk. Knowing how the bus system works is a must as you'll probably inevitably have to take them. This is the only place I've ever seen Disneyland long lines to take the bus at the end of the day at 4pm, while buses are stuck, stopped in a gridlock traffic jam. The line for a chairlift on a Monday wasn't even that long, yet somehow took almost 1.5 hours due to a conglomeration of factors. People either don't know or pretend they don't know how the chairlift lines merge and they have to wait their turn and merge 1,2,1,2, so whole families trying to cut in front of each other ended up yelling at each other, causing a scene. Everyone's frustrated and impatient with the chairlift lines and how slow they move. Yet then you'll randomly find another chairlift on the mountain with no line, and can stick to it all day and it will never grow a line as people's brains don't work too well at these high altitudes and they'll just keep flocking to the same Disneyland long line ones like sheep. The people here are really nice, like surprisingly nice and helpful. People will stop and make sure you're okay if you fall. One guy/simp even spent an hour helping my girlfriend slowly down the mountain after we got on a run too steep for her and got separated. There's a few outliers as always though, with the 3 degenerates in the car parked next to us bragging/joking about all the people they ran down that day, as it was early season and crowded. I saw one teenage snowboarder run down some little kid, and then take off as the kid's dad was screaming at him. As for the employees here, they're extremely nice and helpful. I definitely plan on coming back later this season after the crowds subside.

Outdoor adventures, hiking, many lakes to go fishing, biking on natural and man-made trails and…read morenice natural sites to explore.

We had an amazing stay this past weekend at the Mammoth Chalets! Management was so great with…read morecommunication, kind and accommodating, it made our trip that much more enjoyable since we did not have to stress over certain things like check in and parking. I planned this trip with a group of friends, and they could not stop commenting about how the chalets was the best stay they've been in at Mammoth. We stayed at chalet #9 which was not a ski out, but a very short walk to the main lodge/lifts and definitely a ski in from lower road runner. The chalet itself was cozy with plentiful seating, and even extra foldable chairs for our group. The beds were comfortable, and the bathrooms came equipped with hotel sized toiletries, which was a nice touch. The kitchen is a good size and well equipped with all the necessities, along with a fridge/freezer that was the perfect size to fit all of our weekend groceries. I also appreciated that they even had a huge pot to make group meals like pho, even though I had already brought my own instant pot. I would 110% stay here again and recommend the chalets to all of my family and friends. This was such a wonderful find. Thank you for the awesome stay Mammoth Mountain Chalets! :)

We just stayed in the newly renovated Shasta. It was fantastic. We've stayed in multiple different…read morecabins and have loved them all. The restaurant was amazing as usual. The food and service always exceed our expectations. We're looking forward to returning in March and again in June. There isn't a season here that we don't enjoy.

We LOVE everything about Convict Lake Resort, from the ambience, the amenities, the location, and…read morethe convenience to the neat and tidiness of the place! Convict Lake and Mammoth Lakes were on my bucket list for so many years. Living in the Bay Area means it's a rough 5-6 hours of driving through windy mountainous roads. Thus, we wanted to pick a place to stay that could provide us the comfort of home we needed. And Convict Lake Resort delivered! From the booking process to checking in and later checking out, everything was a breeze! We received emails reminder from staff detailing easy steps needed to check in. When it looked like we might arrive late, they promptly sent us instructions for self check in. Luckily we arrived on time before the gift shop close. Each cabin has 1 parking spot for your car. However, there are many parking spaces within walking distance to your cabin if you and your party happen to have more than 1 car. As soon as we opened the door into our cabin, our stress and exhaustion of the long drive melted away! We love the high vaulted ceiling, the warm woody interior and how spacious and clean the inside of our cabin was! It was so welcoming and smells so good! You could tell that the staff did a wonderful job cleaning and preparing for your stay! Thank you ! The kitchen area was another highlights of the cabin! It was big with full amenities! We used it so many times during our stay to cook our meals and everything in between! Microwaves, fridges, freezer, chopping board, plate wares, forks and spoons, etc. You name it, they have it! There's a door by the kitchen area which gave you access to the mini wood behind your cabin. We once spotted some deers here during twilight times . And the BATHROOM!!! We LOVE IT!! Super spacious with nice rain-forest shower head! After a long day being active outside like hiking, kayaking and other stuff, we came home to the cabin, hopped into the shower and let all our fatigue washed away! I swear this shower had some acupuncture magic as it soothed my tired body so well! The sliding door to the bathroom was so modern and chic itself. We love the tiny windows looking out to the wood beside our cabin. We joked to each other that "Number 2 with a great view !" Not only the inside was amazing, the outside porch area with the gas grill was another bonus! Never had we ever seen such a clean grill like this! Kudos again to the staff ! We utilized the grill many times during our visits and enjoyed a dinner or breakfast outdoor with our pup :) And first time in our life, we saw such a dog friendly place! Every cabin seemed to have at least one dog. My puppy Butter had such a wonderful socializing with all his furry friends and neighbors. We enjoyed walking around and checking out the resort on the lovely trails surrounding the resort and looked at all the amazing mountains. Convict Lake Resort is just 10 minutes of walking and 5 minutes of driving from Convict Lake. Location! Location! Location!! There's a lovely restaurant onsite that I'll review in details in another review :) Overall, AMAZING place and words cannot describe how satisfied we were! We'll definitely come back and recommend this place with all our family and friends :)

One of the two places to grab a bite to eat at June Mountain…read more Quick and friendly service. The food is great for how quickly they need to keep serving everyone. The philly cheesesteak and fries were a sizable portion for the price on the mountain. If you are willing to splurge a little get yourself an ice cream cookie sandwich. that was one of the best treats i had on the mountain!

Old review that's been sitting in draft: For newbs learning to board or ski, this is the Gull lake…read morelodge remains our fav place to stay in June. Consistent over the years.. wonderful customer service, clean, comfy, and modern with dog friendly rooms. Pet rules: two dogs max. $20 x dog per night (3rd night they stay for free. yay!) The small things like having soft plush towels, Mrs. Meyers hand/dish soap and kitchen stocked with cooking oil, spices, and ground coffee is a big plus. Kyle and Krissy are always friendly and responsive over email. We stayed in few different rooms and the cabins here and you can't go wrong with any them. perfect spot. Long wide runs and friendly staff. The only way up is the two seater chair lift..it can be scary, but you don't have to strap in, so it takes off the anxiety of getting off the chair lift on top. Chair J6 is the easiest to get on and off the lift. It slows down a bit on top with a low incline. There are some flat areas on this run, so keep your speed or you're have to shimmy or walk until you get to an inclined. J2 is a two-seater. It lifts up and turns quickly, so make sure to unload as soon as you're on top. Especially for shorter people, the chair lifts up and can knock off your balance.

I did not stay here but I hung out in their lounge area two days in a row as I needed a break…read morebetween XC skiing. I came in here around 11am, however, their restaurant doesn't open until noon. There is a really nice lounge area where there are two fireplaces, jazz playing and a really cozy space to just relax. I just came here both days resting between XC sessions, ate some lunch I brought, had some water and just chilled out. Id definitely love to return and have a cocktail here and hang out here with a special someone, flirting the night away, plotting some clandestine tryst (maybe a beautiful hike into the mountains behind - looking at stars, listening for wild animals) and deeply enjoying life, big grins, and making each day count. Id also consider staying here on my next return, the surrounding area is just gorgeous!

We had a great visit to this spot this August. It's away from town enough that you feel like you…read moreare away from it all, but just minutes from fine food at Skadi. We stayed in a cabin and it was fantastic. We had a deck overlooking Twin Lakes and the cliffs above, a kitchen where we cooked one night (who wants to leave heaven?), a fireplace, and was totally clean. The only downside and definitely a star deduction was perhaps it was too clean and smelled strongly of cleaning solution. We left open all the window and turned up the heat at night and turned on all the fans when we left for the day and by the second day, it was tolerable. Continental breakfast was fine with hard boiled eggs and yogurt for protein and cream cheese and peanut butter and all the toastable carbs. We loved our hikes and I loved kayaking on Twin Lakes. It's a perfect one-hour paddle and so peaceful up at the waterfall.

I have been to Tom's Place too many times to count. It is one of those few surviving old school…read more(literally ... it is over 100 years old) roadside cafes that are precious little gems. The food is very good. Not spectacular, and not gourmet, by any means, but very good American fare. The service is also very good, and the current owner is an asset to the community in many ways. But it is the ambiance that really makes it special. It dates back to 1917, and looks it. The dining room has a big fireplace and is paneled with knotty pine. There are a lot of doo-dads about which give the place a lot of character. Next to the dining room is a small bar, similarly festooned with a lot of entertaining doo dads. Tom's place is an official watering hole of ECV, and that alone tells you something about the place. They also have a small general store with convenience food and supplies, as well as simple souvenirs like t-shirts and coffee mugs. Have a look there while you are at it. To give you a sense of the place, consider the attached photograph. It is of the stairway to the restrooms downstairs. That doorway is low enough that a tall person might possibly hit their head, hence the admonishment. That's it in a nutshell. This is either your kind of place or not. But it is surely mine!

Okay I don't even know where to start currently in a food comma and in disbelief of how good this…read moreprime rib was to die for the seasoning and the taste on it is honestly the best best prob rib I've ever tasted. I can say now I have my spot where to get prime rib and not overprice but I honestly wouldn't mind paying way more for the prime rib it was to die for. Service since I got here I was to die for I felt part of the family the ambience is so nice and cozy like I am in a cabin so nice!! So glad I found this place last minute. But it's definitely a must if I ever come down here I get and I will for the prime rib !! Served on Saturday after 5.

2 bedroom suite. Steps from everywhere. Good ski lockers. the best parking, lovely staff. Hint:…read moreDaily housekeeping the best! EZ shuttle access and people mover.

Very poor service. During our stay we kept sneezing and coughing due to dust. I suspect they…read morecleaned after the last guest and never cleaned again when we checked in. Also, we went out at 8am to get breakfast and when we came back they already kicked us out of the room. We told the manager and she said "well, that's just what we do"! I felt that was a poor response and quite rude. Absolutely ridiculous policy

Be extremely careful with fences installed by ski patrol out of nowhere. They sometimes make…read moremistakes and install fences that do not make any sense that weren't even there that very same day, on the very same line. You will be better off throwing yourself into the ground at high speed to be able to stop on time, and walk around it, or you risk of being threatened like a criminal to cancel your pass, and to only use an easy line. On Friday, January 9th, I used a nice black diamond line 3 times from 9-11:30 am, no fence whatsoever, everything perfectly safe. While trying to run it for a 4th time at around 12:45, I noticed a "safety fence" on exactly the exit of that line, on a place that wouldn't make any sense. I already committed to the line, and was going at a decent speed. I tried to be polite enough, not destroying the fence but rather going under it. The ski patrol was finishing the fence close to where I crossed it, so he proceeded to threaten me like a criminal to cancel my pass and felt with the authority to order me to use Academy only. Weird thing, I tried to run the line again at like 2:30 pm, but planned to use a slightly different exit to avoid that fence, and for some "strange" reason, the fence I crossed and that I was threatened for, wasn't even there anymore. That tells me that someone made a mistake and just put a fence on a place that didn't make any sense whatsoever, and that would have actually made the run more dangerous instead of safer. Not even try to e-mail China Peak, they won't own their mistake, and essentially they will threaten you again over email to cancel you pass. This is not the friendly resort that it used to be anymore, take your business to Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley, or Mountain High, they still have the vibe.

Resort is beautiful, amazing views, all of the staff were very helpful. Specially Lindsay and Holly…read moreover in guest relations/ticketing. I watched Lindsay get berated by a guest over an issue with the parking lot. Lindsay kept very calm and professional. Lindsay and Holly were able to help me and my partner with our problem. The only thing missing from this resort to make it a 5 star would be the need for updated/more modern chairlifts, the current ones are very slow (20 minutes to the peak) and 3 out of the 4 times I stopped at one of the water refill stations they were all empty.