It (almost) doesn’t matter which of the base stations in Mammoth Mountain you choose as your base for tackling the ski area. The lower section of the mountain offers plenty of simple slopes and therefore the ideal environment for making your first turns on a pair of skis or a snowboard. We were particularly impressed by the practice areas around Canyon Lodge and Main Lodge. Here, beginners have six magic carpet lifts to choose from (as of March 2016), helping inexperienced skiers of all ages to get off to the right start. When you are feeling a little more confident on your skis, you can take the Schoolyard Express (lift no. 17) from Canyon Lodge or Chair 7 to the green-marked Spring Canyon, Round About or Little Bird trails. Meanwhile, the second valley station – Main Lodge – is served by the Discovery Chair (11) and Thunder Bound Express lifts, carrying skiers up to the start of slightly longer easy trails.
Mammoth Mountain makes learning easy: The perfect combination of blue and green trails
In addition to the eye-catching training areas around the base lodges, we particularly appreciated the seamless transition from absolute beginner trails (marked green in the USA) to somewhat more challenging slopes (marked blue in the USA). At Canyon Lodge, Chair 8 transports you to the “slightly more difficult slopes” named “Hully Gully” and “Swell”. The same applies for the Broadway Express lift and the trail of the same name from the Main Lodge.
Freestyle for beginners: Mammoth Mountain Fun Zones
Mammoth Mountain is known around the globe for its freestyle terrain parks. Even beginners are catered for in this respect, with a so-called “Fun Zone” near every base lodge. These areas are also marked on the trail map, offering simple obstacles for newcomers to hone their freestyle skills. They are therefore the ideal place to start for freestyle riders aspiring to progress to the more challenging freestyle parks in the resort.