Outbound Mammoth encourages connection with the great outdoors

On our last visit to Outbound Mammoth in April 2023, then named Sierra Nevada Resort, my family and I were excited to check out the property’s head-to-toe reimagination, which includes its 179 deluxe rooms and fireplace suites, luxury chalets, an inviting lobby, and a refreshed dining concept. But upon arrival, we quickly realized that full completion had naturally been paused due to record snowfall. So this ski season, when the opportunity to get away presented itself, we headed back up to see what had previously been covered by two stories of snow.

Outbound Mammoth’s new collection of ten freestanding cabins rounds out the offerings, which now also include an outdoor food garden with rotating food trucks (thankfully, Café Crepe, which we discovered last year, is still there), a heated spa tub with adjacent firepits, and a new pool inspired by the area’s hot springs, surrounded by views of the Sierras.

Studio-style one-bedroom cabins feature vaulted ceilings, a full living room, kitchen, king-size bed, sleeper sofa, and a private deck. Interior décor brings nature in with plenty of wood and stone while celebrating the property’s alpine setting with cozy plaid, wool, and leather accents. And with all Outbound Hotels being dog-friendly, four-legged members of the family are welcome to join in the fun as well.

After full days on the mountain, we made sure to join in Outbound Mammoth’s seasonal programming, including Après Sip & Dip — a poolside evening of cocktails and jacuzzi dips offered on Fridays during ski season, complete with private sauna and cold plunge experiences by Mammoth Sauna Co. and music by DJ Will Nye. On Saturday, we enjoyed live music at Bar Sierra, the property’s restaurant featuring California-style comfort food and a game room stocked with vintage video games.

With the slopes slated to close after Memorial Day, attention now turns to summer happenings, which include the tenth annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. Held May 22 to 26, visitors can experience five days of screenings of independent features and shorts. Named as one of the Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee by MovieMaker Magazine for the past eight years in a row, MLFF showcases the work of emerging, innovative filmmakers against the backdrop of California’s beautiful Eastern Sierra. 

After a brief between-season pause, Sip & Dip returns on June 15 and will continue on the second Saturday of each month during the summer, featuring rotating DJs and a poolside bar serving canned cocktails. 

Then, from June 21 to 23, High n’ Wicked Whiskey presents The Betts’ 2024 Horseshoe Music Festival, hosted at Outbound Mammoth. This unique, intimate festival has something for everyone centered around four pillars: music, fashion, food, and wellness. Special room and ticket festival packages are available.

Outbound Mammoth is also preparing to launch a partnership with Hyperice and Oru Kayak as part of their Gear Garage program. Guests can rent Hyperice’s Normatec recovery technology after a long day of hiking or biking, or borrow an Oru foldable kayak to take out on the lakes.

And during summer months, guests can golf or saddle up for a horseback riding journey. Nearby, Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit provides daily horseback and mule rides ranging from one hour to all day in the beautiful Lakes Basin area. Scenic and breathtaking trails take riders to amazing overlooks, along the shores of gleaming lakes, and through majestic forests. 

“We dig deep to unearth and offer what makes these amazing places amazing,” says Matthew Mering, Executive Vice President of Hospitality at Waterton, Outbound Hotels’ ownership group. “We’re passionate about going the extra mile to help travelers have experiences that turn them into Outbounders: curious explorers who get their thrills from nature and love and respect the places they visit.” outboundhotels.com/mammoth