New Shady Loop

The Shady Rest Park area offers several miles of groomed trails during the winter months. These trails typically open after the first major snowfall of the season. The trails are free to use and open to anyone including walkers, snowshoers, nordic skiers and winter fat bikers. The trails can be accessed via Shady Rest Park, or the Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center.

There are two primary loops within the trail system. In this guide we’ll look at the New Shady Loop.

This loop can be started at either the park or visitor center. In this guide we’ll start from the visitor center. Walk past the buildings then turn right on a short, un-groomed path that leads to the groomed loop.

Heading in a clockwise fashion you’ll set off through the beautiful Jeffrey Pine forest. At the first junction you come to continue straight.

You’ll soon come to Shady Rest Park. The loop stays just across the road from the park, but it is an easy detour if you wish to visit.

Continue onward, not turning right on the Pine Cone Cutoff, but staying on the New Shady Loop as it slowly curves around to the right.

The trail passes an open clearing, then curves right again underneath some power lines. At the next junction you’ll turn left.

Continue following the trail as it passes through the New Shady Campground. You’ll eventually reach the point where you began, and turn left on the short un-groomed path to get back to the visitor center.