State Route 203

A large wooly mammoth statue sits next to the gondola terminal and visitors center near Mammoth Mountain Resort.

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About a mile east of Minaret Summit (the western terminus of California 203), Mammoth Mountain resort sits on the south side of California 203.

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This view looks east from Mammoth Mountain resort along eastbound California 203.

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Leaving Mammoth Mountain resort, eastbound California 203 sees overflow parking along both sides of the state route. This parking area is the place to park when visiting Devils Postpile and Reds Meadow.

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California 203 east from Mammoth Mountain resort toward Earthquake Fault and downtown Mammoth Lakes.

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Eastbound California 203 meets Mammoth Scenic Loop, which travels north to join U.S. 395 near Crestview. Continue straight ahead to follow California 203 east into Mammoth Lakes and onward to U.S. 395 south to Bishop.

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A series of condominiums line the sides of California 203 through downtown Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes sits at an elevation of 7,880 feet and had a population of 7,093 people as of the 2000 Census. The town incorporated on August 20, 1984. Mammoth Lakes is known as a gateway community for Mammoth Ski Resort and various recreational opportunities around Mammoth Lakes. U.S. 395 avoids Mammoth Lakes by staying to the east of the town; California 203 is the primary route through town.

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Just a few blocks southeast of there, California 203 approaches its first traffic signal: the intersection between Minaret Road and Lake Mary Road/Main Street. At this signal, California 203 turns left (east) onto Main Street. A single California 203 trailblazer is posted prior to the traffic signal.

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Continue straight to follow Minaret Street, or turn right to follow Lake Mary Road to the Mammoth Lakes, the namesake of this scenic high Sierra town. California 203 turns left onto Main Street at this point.

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Upon making the turn, eastbound California 203 follows Main Street east through the rest of Mammoth Lakes en route to U.S. 395. This view shows the traffic signal at Minaret Road.

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Most services are set back from California 203 (Main Street) along a frontage road.

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Eastbound California 203 (Main Street) at U.S. 395. The first right links to U.S. 395 south to Bishop and Los Angeles, while the next left leads to U.S. 395 north to Lee Vining and Bridgeport.

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Eastbound California 203 meets U.S. 395 north to Lee Vining and Bridgeport.

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An end California 203 shield is posted after the on-ramp to U.S. 395 north. Main Street continues east a short distance to Casa Diablo Hot Springs and an extant stretch of old U.S. 395, but there is no outlet.

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Postmile 8.67 for SR 203 precedes the diamond interchange joining Substation Road with U.S. 395.

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Westbound California 203 at the entrance ramp for U.S. 395 north to Lee Vining, Mono Lake, and Bridgeport. The southbound on-ramp joins U.S. 395 south to Bishop and Los Angeles.

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At the turnoff to U.S. 395 north is this mileage sign for California 203 west to the town of Mammoth Lakes (three miles).

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Westbound California 203 meets the left turn to U.S. 395 south en route to Bishop.

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The first three miles of SR 203 leading west from U.S. 395 constitute an expressway.

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Beyond Mammoth Mountain and Minaret Summit (Mono-Madera County Line), traffic is restricted from using California 203 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day during summer months. Visitors wishing to see Devils Postpile National Monument, Rainbow Falls, and Reds Meadow must use the shuttle bus, which is available at the Mammoth Mountain resort parking lot. The shuttle bus requirement was implemented to remove excessive traffic between Agnew Meadows and Reds Meadow. The state route ends at Minaret Summit.

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The town of Mammoth Lakes sits at an elevation of 7,880 feet and had a population of 7,093 people as of the 2000 Census. The town incorporated on August 20, 1984. Mammoth Lakes is known as a gateway community for Mammoth Ski Resort and various recreational opportunities around Mammoth Lakes. All motorist services are available in Mammoth Lakes. U.S. 395 avoids Mammoth Lakes by staying to the east of the town; California 203 is the primary route west into town.

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California 203 widens to expressway standards as a median barriers separates the two directions of highway travel.

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Westbound California 203 entering the town of Mammoth Lakes.

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Meridian Boulevard links SR 203 with Cerro Coso Community College and Mammoth Ski Museum to the west. SR 203 continues west along Main Street into Mammoth Lakes.

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A California 203 west reassurance shield is posted after the Meridian Boulevard intersection.

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Many of the recreational areas in and around Mammoth Lakes are operated by Inyo National Forest, including many of the areas surrounding Devils Postpile, the lakes, and the ski resort.

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The next right connects to the Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center, which provides maps and brochures about visiting surrounding areas.

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Westbound California 203 meets the turnoff to Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center.

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The visitor center also functions as a national forest ranger station.

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After the visitor center is another welcome sign for the town of Mammoth Lakes. After the visitor center turnoff, the expressway will change into a conventional urban roadway leading into town.

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The next intersection along westbound is with Sierra Park Road. Turn right here for Shady Rest Campground; turn left here for Mammoth Hospital.

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The first signalized intersection along California 203 (Main Street) west is with Old Mammoth Road. Old Mammoth Road leads southwest, joining with Lake Mary Road before reaching the Mammoth Lakes south of town.

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Westbound California 203 (Main Street) next meets Laurel Mountain Road at this intersection, which has a signed pedestrian crossing. Most services line the south side of Main Street via a frontage road that parallels California 203.

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Coming into downtown, a postmile marker indicates a mileage of 5.00 (realigned).

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Westbound California 203 (Main Street) approaches the next traffic signal at Lake Mary Road and Minaret Road. Turn left to follow Minaret Road south, continue straight for Lake Mary Road south to Mammoth Lakes, or turn right for the continuation of California 203 west to Mammoth Mountain and Devils Postpile.

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A second sign advises of the destinations served by California 203 and Lake Mary Road.

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Westbound California 203 meets Minaret Road and Lake Mary Road. California 203 turns right at this intersection to travel toward Earthquake Fault, Mammoth Mountain, Devils Postpile, and Reds Meadow.

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After the Minaret Road traffic signal, California 203 curves north briefly to pass by a series of large condominium resort complexes.

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This mileage sign along California 203 west provides the distance to Mammoth Mountain (four miles), Minaret Summit (five miles), and Devils Postpile National Monument (13 miles). The state route ends at Minaret Summit, and access to Devils Postpile requires a trip on a shuttle bus when in-season between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

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As we leave the urbanized portion of Mammoth Lakes, California 203 gains elevation and sees some winding road en route to the ski resort, Mammoth Mountain.

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Westbound California 203 approaches Mammoth Scenic Loop Road, which travels north to join U.S. 395 near Crestview, south of Deadman Summit.

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California 203 west gains elevation to the Mammoth Mountain ski resort.

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Westbound California 203 meets the turnoff to Earthquake Fault. A parking area adjacent to the 50-fott-deep fissure in the earth allows visitors to witness the extent of earth movement. Theories abound on the origin of this fissure: an earthquake, the rise of the Sierra Nevada, or lava. Geological activity is very common in and around Mammoth Lakes, resulting in astounding beauty but leaving the potential for danger.

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The slopes of Mammoth Mountain come into view. Skiers travel from all over the Southwest to ski at Mammoth Mountain. A common refrain each winter is the journey of skiers from Southern California up U.S. 395 to Mammoth for a weekend of skiing.

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An Inyo National Forest sign greets visitors to Mammoth Mountain. Parking areas line both sides of the highway.

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Westbound California 203 at the large parking area for Mammoth Mountain resort. Both sides of the highway feature perpendicular parking, and a large parking lot is located closer to the resort. During hours of shuttle operation, all through traffic to Devils Postpile and Reds Meadow must park and take the shuttle into the valley.

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Passing through the Mammoth Mountain resort parking lot, a gondola line passes over the state route. Park here to ride the gondola or to see Devils Postpile and Reds Meadow. California 203 ends about one mile east of here at the Mono-Madera County Line at Minaret Summit. Beyond Minaret Summit (el. 9,174 feet), traffic is metered to allow only campers and shuttle buses. All day-use visitors between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. are required to use the shuttle. The shuttle has not always been in place; it was first activated in 1980.

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A wooly mammoth (elephant) stands guard in front of the Mammoth Mountain gondola terminal. Tickets for the gondola and shuttle bus to Reds Meadow is located within the building behind the wooly mammoth. During winter, the road typically is unplowed beyond this point and thus is closed in winter west of here. Access to Devils Postpile and Reds Meadow is limited during winter due to snow closures.

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This mileage sign along Minaret Road provides the distance to Agnew Meadows (three miles), Devils Postpile (seven miles), Reds Meadow (eight miles), and Roads End (eight miles). The last eight miles are all under U.S. Forest Service maintenance and are not part of California 203. The road is only open in Summer and requires a fee to be paid for entry, typically through the shuttle bus fare.

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Riding the shuttle bus toward Agnew Meadows along Minaret Road, the majestic Sierra Nevada rise on both sides of the highway.

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Although not part of California 203, Lake Mary Road is notable for a tunnel that carries the roadway under a ski run. At the time this picture was taken, construction was underway to incorporate a bike path into the roadway corridor.

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This view from the tunnel looks south toward Mammoth Lakes.

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Lake Mary Road curves southwest and then south toward the towering peaks that line up behind Mammoth Lakes, including Mammoth Peak (el. 11,030 feet).

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Part of Devils Postpile National Monument, a dirt trail through Inyo National Forest (Ansel Adams Wilderness) connects Rainbow Falls with Devils Postpile. Rainbow Falls carries the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River down 101 feet. For a couple hours around midday, a rainbow (as seen here) forms within the ample mist generated by the cascading water.

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A fire burned significant portions of the valley at Devils Postpile National Monument in 1992, the year before rains drenched the area in the wet Winter of 1992-1993.

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Water flowing along the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River drops 101 feet at Rainbow Falls.

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Near Rainbow Falls is Devils Postpile, which is also part of Devils Postpile National Monument. This area around the postpile is punctuated by the stack of volcanic columns that persist to this day in their orderly arrangement. The top of the pile is accessible, and the columns form a nearly smooth floor with mostly hexagonal-shaped tiles.

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Earthquake Fault, which is found along California 203 between Mammoth Lakes and the resort and ski area.

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The Mammoth Lakes lie at the southwestern end of Lake Mary Road. Namesake Lake Mary is the largest of the many lakes in this basin. Activities here include camping, hiking, swimming, and fishing. A towering rock formation (Crystal Crag) can be seen from around the lakes, offering a unique view. Volcanic activity around the lakes has resulted in some tree die-off, and warnings persist about the possibility of eruption.

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