IT'S FALL! Which means the leaves are turning 🍂 In this guide, we'll share our weekend itinerary listing many great places to catch fall foliage, hiking spots, and ways to save money on this adventure.

Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA

Bishop, CA, USA

Inyo National Forest, Pacu Ln, Bishop, CA, USA

Fall Edition: Weekend Guide to Mammoth Lakes, CA

Start your day at Rock Creek Lake for a nice morning walk around the lake and catch some fall foliage.

Hike Rainbow Falls via Devils Postpile Trail. From the trailhead, walk about 0.3 miles to see the Devils Postpile.

Continue hiking to Rainbow Falls. As you're hiking the trail, keep an eye out for all the fall foliage. We saw lots of beautiful Aspen trees that were bright yellow with some starting to turn with some orange hues! 

At the end of this trail, soak in the views of this 101 ft. waterfall and see the rainbow. 

Head up to Minaret Vista Point to take in the views of Mammoth Lakes skyline.

Drive to Lake Mary and walk around the lake to see more fall foliage. 

Find dispersed camping off of Mammoth Scenic Loop. There will NOT be a bathroom since it is dispersed camping, but that also means that the camping spot is FREE! 

⚠️ 4X4 is recommended to access the top of Sagehen Summit

More fall foliage with picturesque mountains in the background. The water was super clear and you can even see snow caps on the mountains.

Head to Erick Schat's Bakery to pick up some delicious sandwiches, bread, and pastries.

Great place to pull over on the side of the road to enjoy your sandwiches from Erick Schat's Bakery. Take in the views of the waterfall surrounded by fall foliage.

Visiting and staying in Mammoth Lakes can get very expensive. Here are some ways to save on your trip to Mammoth Lakes:

🏕️ DISPERSED CAMPING: There are lots of areas along Mammoth Scenic Loop to camp at. It is a very quiet area and oftentimes you will have a part of the area to yourself.

⛽️ CHEAP GAS: Gas at Mammoth Lakes is always more pricey compared to other places. We usually go to the Yuhubi Nobi Gas Station in Bishop to fill up since they typically have the lowest gas prices in town.

This rest area is about a 10 minute drive from Mammoth Scenic Loop. 

‼️ Be sure to pack in and pack out, leave no trace!

🚘 Parking lot to sleep in for the night*

🚻 Has flush toilets, toilet paper, and hand soap

🚮 Large dumpsters to dispose of any trash

*It can get pretty loud with cars coming and going throughout the night and early morning

Drive through Sage Hen Meadows Road to see the beautiful fall foliage as you head to the top of Sagehen Summit. 

Sagehen Summit was our favorite place to catch the fall foliage. The yellow leaves were very vibrant and it felt like we were surrounded by the foliage.

The last stop to see fall foliage before heading home is Intake Two. Check out the reflections in the reservoir along with the vibrant colors of the leaves turning.

🚻 REST AREAS: Take advantage of rest areas to use the bathroom and clean up for the night. We usually stop at a rest area to clean up before heading to where we will be staying for the night.

🍔 FOOD: Food can get very expensive at Mammoth Lakes. We typically bring our own food to cook and enjoy our dinner at a scenic view. BONUS: You can also catch the sunset!

Save this guide for your next adventure to Mammoth Lakes! 

We would love to connect with you! Follow us @offbeat_adventures.nm on Instagram for additional travel adventures! 

Fall Edition: Weekend Guide to Mammoth Lakes, CA

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