Eastern Sierra Mountain Biking Report & Information Guide

Fun Times with the Footloose Crew in the Bike Park
Fun Times with the Footloose Crew in the Bike Park

June 24th, 2025 – Good day from the Eastern Sierra! 🌞 

Mountain biking is sweet right now at elevations below 10,000 feet as the snow has melted away. Above that elevation, there are still some patches of snow and a lot of muddy areas.

The Mountain Bike Park is up and running daily, with 7 Cross-Country Trails, 4 Downhill Trails, and the Discovery Park. Starting Friday, Gondola 1 will be open to access Velocity, Twilight Zone, and lower Chain Smoke. Crews are working hard to get more trails open ASAP, including Off the Top. 

Outside the Bike Park, there is plenty of adventure riding, cross-country, and enduro action to be had. I have a list of what’s open below, so check it out and get a ride to the Eastern Sierra.

Important Dates for 2025:

June 14th: Mammoth Mountain Gondola Re-Opens

August 16: Peddle Palooza Link

The 2025 VC (Village Championship) Race Series in Mammoth Lakes, organized by the Sierra Eastside Mountain Bike Association (SEMBA), is scheduled as follows:

🗓 2025 VC Race Series Schedule

  • Race #1: Thursday, June 5, 2025
    📍 Sherwin Meadow Trailhead
    🕓 Check-in: 4:45 PM | Race Start: 5:30 PM 

  • Race #2: Thursday, June 19, 2025
    📍 Mammoth Mountain Chair 4 Parking
    🕓 Check-in: 4:45 PM | Race Start: 5:30 PM 

  • Race #3: Thursday, July 3, 2025
    📍 Mammoth Mountain Chair 4 Parking
    🕓 Check-in: 4:45 PM | Race Start: 5:30 PM

  • Race #4: Thursday, July 17, 2025
    📍 Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge (Start at Chair 4 Parking)
    🕓 Check-in: 4:45 PM | Race Start: 5:30 PM

  • Race #5: Thursday, July 31, 2025
    📍 Location: TBD (NICA Course)
    🕓 Check-in: 4:45 PM | Race Start: 5:30 PM

Each race offers a fun, community-focused atmosphere suitable for riders of all levels. Visit the SEMBA Events Page for registration, volunteer opportunities, and the latest updates.

Check the latest local weather report before you head up—it’ll help you dial in your gear and prep.

Video Player: Select the 4K options to avoid grainy trail footage. The Footloose Sports Bike Shop sponsors videos in 2025. (Open May – September) Call them at 760-934-2400; they have EMTB Levos and Regular Stump Jumpers for rent.

Ride the Eastside Mountain Bike Report

The Mountain Bike Park is up and running daily, with 7 Cross-Country Trails and 4 Downhill Trails. Crews have been working hard to open more trails as soon as possible.

Right now, the following are open: Cross Country Trails, Big Ring (2-way), Uptown, Lakes Trail, Paper Route (2-way), Timber Ridge, and Manzanita.

Downhill Trails: Downtown (easy), Juniper (intermediate), Shotgun (Expert), Smooth Operator (Expert), Twilight Zone Lower Section (Expert)

Lifts & Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM Daily through September 14

More Trails and Lifts will open as soon as possible. The snow is melting fast, with the current snowline between the Main Lodge and McCoys Station. As soon as I see or hear of more trails opening, I will let you know.

VC Downhill Race Schedule: July 18th Shotgun, August 8th Flow, August 29 Follow Me, September 12 Eliminator.

Women’s Wednesday Afternoons start July 18

Mammoth Lakes Area Trails: The snowline is now up above 9000+ feet, so most of your favorite trails around and near town are now open.

I would give Mammoth Rock Trail a try; it is a great out-and-back ride. The climb is just about right for something at the 8000-foot level, and the ride back down into the Mammoth Meadow area is fun and mellow.

Mountain View still needs to melt and dry out, especially in the upper sections that are still under snow. The Inyo Craters Loop and the Big and Little Smokey Bear Loop are open. Mammoth Knolls Trail Loop and all the dirt roads and little offshoot single tracks in that area are open and ridable.

You can also park at Footloose Sports and ride Sawmill dirt road to the Big Smoky Bear Loop. For the most fun, I highly recommend doing that ride on an E-MTB. Mountain View is also a 1/4 mile from here and is fun on a Mountain Bike or an E-MTB. 

(LRC) Lower Rock Creek Trail: All three sections of the trail are wide open at this time. There are lots of multi-use users, so watch out for hikers and dogs. You will also find fisherpeople on the trail sometimes, so watch out for those fishing rods. Learn more about LRC at this link. 

Buttermilk Country and the Tungsten Hills: Open, but beware temperatures get hot during the afternoons.

Foothill Areas of West Bishop & Millpond: All dirt roads, older moto trails, and single tracks are open and ridable. Over the next few months, watch for rattlesnakes in these areas. I saw one just a couple of days ago sunning itself on one of the single tracks. 

White Mountain Road to the White Mountain Single-Track Trail is Open

The Poleta Canyon OHV Area is open (it is located at the end of E Line St and has miles of open, ridable terrain). The Poleta Canyon Trail is open, but beware: temperatures can get hot during the afternoons.

>>Mountain Biking Disclaimer Alert<<

Cal Topo Map - Click for Live Version
Cal Topo Map – Click for Live Version

Eastern Sierra Mountain Biking Photos

Welcome to Eastern Sierra Mountain Biking

If you’re looking for a unique place to go for a Mountain Bike adventure, you must check out the Eastern Sierra Region.

There are countless opportunities to ride here, from Traditional Mountain Bikes to the new Mountain E-Bikes. You will find everything from single-track action to motocross trails, OHV trails, and forest service roads that lead deep into the backcountry.

This website is here so you will know where to ride, current trail conditions, and what to expect from the local weather on your next Mountain Bike Trip to the Eastern Sierra.

We cover most of what you can ride at the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park, in the Inyo National Forest, and in the Bishop and Big Pine areas. There are miles and miles of mountain biking to be had up here.

Website Author – Steve Taylor (the MammothSnowman) from Mammoth Lakes & Bishop, California

Steve has been Mountain Biking in the Mammoth Lakes and Bishop areas since 1985. At Eastern Sierra Mountain Biking, he is offering up his years of knowledge on where to ride and what the trails are like.

Steve moved to Mammoth Lakes full-time in 1990 and down to Bishop in Late Spring 2019. He currently rides five to six days a week and is excited to share his local Mountain Biking knowledge with you. If you’re into skiing and snowboarding, check out his Winter website at MammothSnowman.com.