Mammoth Mountain ski slopes to close; Bike Park to open May 22

If you didn’t get a chance to ski Mammoth Mountain this season, you have one more shot. The slopes will stay open to boarders and skiers at least another week before closing for the season and shifting to a summer bike park.

Typically there’s enough snow to keep the Sierra Nevada resort open through Memorial Day, but California’s severe drought has made this anything but a typical year for outdoor sports.

On the upside: The Bike Park will open selected routes Fridays through Sundays starting May 22. The full park and gondola access will open daily June 12.

Mammoth’s Bike Park offers 80 miles of single-track riding, from beginner to expert trails. Trail upgrades this summer in the park’s 3,500 acres include a connector between two downhill routes, Upper Recoil and Twilight Zone, as well as the completion of the intermediate Trail Home.

There’s also a new Bike Park Basecamp next to the Main Lodge for brews and snacks, and a new fleet of Trek downhill and Enduro mountain bikes to try out, according a ski resort statement.

Mammoth will host two events this year where you can see expert cyclists at work (or is it play?): the USA Cycling Mountain Biking National Championships from July 15 to 19, and the Kamikaze Bike Games from Sept. 24 to 27.

Snow Summit, part of Big Bear Mountain Resorts and Mammoth’s sister resort in Southern California, plans to open its bike park Friday.

Mammoth + Summit Bike Park Pass costs $399 for adults and $199 for children. Season passes for Mammoth’s Bike Park cost $299 for adults and $159 for children.

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UPDATE

May 8, 3:15 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said skiing at Mammoth would end Sunday. However due to a recent storm that brought snow to high elevations, it will remain open for at least another week.

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Info: Mammoth Mountain