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Panorama Dome Trail: Perfect Short Hike in Mammoth Lakes, CA

Panorama Dome Trail: Perfect Short Hike in Mammoth Lakes, CA

On our last visit to Mammoth Lakes, California, both of us were pretty beat from the few days of strenuous hiking. However, we still wanted to do something rather than just sit around. That’s how we found the Panorama Dome trail. Panorama Dome trail is an easy and quite short hike near Twin Lakes in the Mammoth Lakes area. This trail earns its namesake due to the 360° views of the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin once you reach the summit, sitting at almost 9,000 feet. So, Panorama Dome trail is the perfect trail for beginners, families with children, or even experienced hikers who just want to squeeze in a short hike for the day.

Compass
Table of Contents

Stats

Where

Panorama Dome Trailhead
37.620917, -119.004778

Parking

Small pull-out in front of the trailhead.

Fee

Free

Restroom

There are no restrooms here

Pet-friendly?

Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Distance

0.7 miles R.T.

Elevation Gain

288 ft

Level

Easy/Moderate due to the steep incline in a short distance.

Time

30 – 45 minutes

Ideal Time

Panorama Dome is best accessed from May through November

Weather

Getting There

The trailhead for Panorama Dome Trail is located along Lake Mary Road, about 0.3 miles past the Twin Lakes Vista. There is a pull-off right in front of the trailhead where you can park your car. If this is full, you can also find other pull-offs along Lake Mary Road. If you’re visiting in the winter, Lake Mary Road might be closed. You will have to hike in to access the trailhead.

The Adventure

The Panorama Dome trail is well-established but you’ll be gaining a bit of an elevation in a short distance, hence the moderate rating. Despite being moderate, it’s not bad, as long as you take your time up the steeper inclined. Also, the snow tends to stick around this trail for quite a long time, even in July or August. If you’re not sure, bring crampons for traction just in case. Check out our recommended gear below for more recommendations.

The Hike Up

After parking, we followed the obvious trail heading up the hill. From the beginning, the Panorama Dome Trail weaves through a forest of pine trees and steadily ascends. As we got higher, we came across piles of snow. Most of the time, we could go around it. However, we were surprised because it was pretty warm out so we didn’t think there would still be snow. From what other hikers commented, the snow sticks around for a long time here. So, if you’re hiking this in the spring, or early summer, you might need to bring crampons or microspikes for traction on the way down. With the dense pine forest, we could imagine how beautiful this trail would be in the winter though. We would love to come back here and do some snowshoeing during the snow season.

The Summit

Since the trail is so short, after a few breaks and a couple of wheezing climbing up the hill, we reached to summit. The trail gets a bit confusing toward the summit since there are many social trails branching all over. But you won’t get lost up here since it is flat and you can see the whole 360 degrees. We do recommend paying attention to where you came from so you can find the trail on the way back.

The Panorama Dome summit is pretty wide. We had to walk around quite a bit to be able to check out the whole area. The views up here are breathtaking. We could see the whole Mammoth Lakes Basin, including the prominent Crystal Dome, near the popular Crystal Lake hike. Although, we were surprised at how windy it was up here. After taking a ton of photos, we went back the same way. This trail is super short and quite easy. If you’re looking for a short or easy hike in Mammoth Lakes, we recommend doing this hike. Inyo Craters trail is also another good option. For something a bit more moderate, Crystal Lake Trail is beautiful. That, or Sherwin Lakes, Sky Meadows, or Convict Lake Loop. If you really want a challenge, check out the Duck Lake Pass Trail

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Recommended Gear

These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

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  • Road Trips Gear
  • Travel Essentials
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!

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