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Feel like clenching your jaw down a 3,000 vertical foot drop with just two wheels and a seat beneath you? Or are you more apt to grab your binoculars and a copy of Audubon for a day of avian wonder? Perhaps you would prefer paddling a kayak on a pristine glacial lake? No matter what it is you like to do, a myriad of outdoor activities awaits you in Mammoth Lakes year round. Located in the Eastern Sierra, this alpine community is truly a nature lovers Eden.

If you want to spin your pedals, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park opens each summer at the end of July right after the snow melts. The park is open from 9am to 6pm daily for your riding pleasure. There is no chance for boredom, with over 100 miles of single-track dirt trails to conquer and breathtaking views. Hitch a ride on the Gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain's 11,000 foot summit and point your front wheel downward for a bone rattling adventure you won't forget. There are trails for everyone in the family including Grandma; from the easy spinning "Paper Route" to the terrifying "Kamikaze". Forgot to bring your bike? No problem. Rental bikes are available in Mammoth Village and at the Adventure Center at the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. The Bike Park Shuttle runs every 20 minutes from the Village for your convenience.

For an unforgettable birding experience, Mono Lake is a short 30 mile drive North from Mammoth Lakes. This alkaline inland sea with its haunting Tufa formations, is home to one of the largest Gull rookeries in North America. You may even spot one of the tens of thousands of Wilson's Phalarope at rest before their non-stop 3,000 mile migration to South America. Is the Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Virginia Rail or Common Snipe missing from your checklist? Then Mono Lake is the place to find them among hundreds of other avian species. If a dancing Greater Sage-Grouse is more your thing, drive a few miles North then East towards Bodie State Historic Park to watch them swagger around this historic Ghost town.

If you want to paddle a kayak on one of the crystal clear glacial lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin you need only drive a short three miles from the village. Lake Mary, George, Mamie and Twin Lakes are all accessible by car and provide breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. You can rent kayaks in Mammoth Village or at one of the marinas for a day of fresh mountain air and unmatched scenery. Paddle over to the far end of Upper Twin Lakes to view the plunging 300 foot Twin Falls or work on building those biceps by following the mile long shoreline of Lake Mary.

Whether biking, birding, or paddling one thing is certain, this outdoor Mecca of the Eastern Sierra will remain in your memory for a long time to come.

Learn more about this author, Tracy Thomas.
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