Mammoth Lakes Paddle Boarding: the Best Spots in the Eastern Sierra

The eastern Sierra is a perfect paradise of crisp alpine lakes, ideally suited for paddling. Beyond Mammoth Lakes paddle boarding, the entire Highway 395 corridor has numerous options to get out on the water, from Bishop to Bridgeport.

Here, we explore the best places to paddle board in Mammoth Lakes and the greater eastern Sierra region. The guide is organized in geographic order, from south to north.

Jump to:

• Rock Creek Lake (Bishop)
• Lake Sabrina (Bishop)
• Lake Crowley (Mammoth Lakes)
• Convict Lake (Mammoth Lakes)
• Lake Mary and Lake Mamie (Mammoth Lakes)
• Lake George (Mammoth Lakes)
• Horseshoe Lake (Mammoth Lakes)
• June Lake and the June Lake Loop (June Lake)
• Mono Lake (Lee Vining)
• Lundy Lake (Lee Vining)
• Virginia Lakes (Bridgeport)
• Twin Lakes (Bridgeport)

Rock Creek Lake (Bishop)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: shore launch and boat dock at Rock Creek Lake Trailhead

While Bishop may be the nearest town to Rock Creek Lake, it’s still a 40-minute drive to reach Rock Creek, one of the highest drive-to lakes in the Sierra. Sitting at over 10,300’ elevation in the John Muir Wilderness, Rock Creek is truly high Sierra splendor. The lake itself encompasses about 55 acres, with plenty of shoreline to explore.  

Lake Sabrina (Bishop)

Rentals: yes, at Lake Sabrina Boat Landing
Where to Launch: boat dock at Lake Sabrina Boat Landing

Tucked away into the end of Highway 68 outside of Bishop, this contained alpine lake provides an easy paddling experience. Additionally, you can extend your stay and grab a bite to eat at the Waterfront Café while savoring the view. It’s most picturesque in early to mid-October, when the fall color bursts along the shoreline.

Lake Crowley (Mammoth Lakes)

Rentals: none, although. both Caldera Kayak and Crowley Lake Fish Camp rent kayaks
Where to Launch: Fish Camp Tackle offers both a boat dock and shore launch

The topography surrounding Lake Crowley is more of the barren, high desert eastern Sierra. While some appreciate the scrub brush and panoramic vistas, others desiring verdant forests may prefer another spot. However, this reservoir on the Owens River offers numerous paddling options along its gentle, 45-mile shoreline.

The stone columns along the east side are a fascinating highlight. These natural wonders appear to have been purposely chiseled into the exposed rock, although they were most likely formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. But regardless of how they came to be, they’re as remarkable as hoodoos or any other curious natural formation, and make for a fun exploration. It’s about a 2-mile paddle each way from the Fish Camp launch to the columns. Just make sure the water levels are low enough to actually see them.

Convict Lake (Mammoth Lakes)

Rentals: yes, at Convict Lake Resort
Where to Launch: Convict Lake Boat Ramp

Located just outside the town of Mammoth, Convict Lake takes its name from a famous 1800s Wild West shootout that happened here, between a group of outlaws and locals. Today, it has a boat launch for an easy put-in and take-out, as well as a small resort where you can enjoy an après-paddle drink or bite to eat. Mount Morrison, at 12,200’, towers over the lake below, making for a dramatic setting.

Lake Mary and Lake Mamie (Mammoth Lakes)

Rentals: yes, at both Pokonobe Marina and Lake Mary Marina
Where to Launch: both shore launch and boat dock options available at either lake. Choose from either Pokonobe Marina and Lake Mary Marina (Lake Mary) or the small dock by Wildyrie Lodge (Lake Mamie).

While there are multiple great paddling options within the Mammoth Lakes Basin, Lake Mary and Lake Mamie are our personal favorites. We group them together, as they are separated by just a small spit of land. With a brief 100-foot portage, you can paddle both lakes in one outing.

Lake Mary is the larger of the two lakes, but beginners should stay conscious of the wind currents that often pick up speed along the water. It’s nothing dangerous, but the wind resistance may challenge some paddlers. Conversely, Lake Mamie is the smaller of the two lakes, and offers a more placid adventure among sublime Sierra views.

Lake George (Mammoth Lakes)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: shore launch or a very small dock at the back of Lake George Campground

Tucked just beyond Lake Mary, serene Lake George offers a little variety for those who have already paddled its larger neighbor. George is about half the size as Mary, but you’ll still get the same pristine alpine environs as the other lakes dotted along the Mammoth Basin.

Horseshoe Lake (Mammoth Lakes)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: shore launch from the trailhead parking lot

The last outpost of the Mammoth Lakes Basin, Horseshoe is situated at the dead-end of Lake Mary Road. A self-contained body of water, it’s just a smidge smaller than Lake Mary but still offers a fun jaunt through crystal-clear waters. There’s a sizeable beach just off the associated parking lot, that makes it easy to shore launch from.

June Lake and the June Lake Loop (June Lake)

Rentals: yes, at June Lake Marina
Where to Launch: shore launch from June Lake Beach or boat dock at June Lake Marina

As one of the largest lakes in the eastern Sierra, June offers numerous inlets and shoreline to explore. It is also one of the most “civilized” lakes outside of Mammoth, with the town of June Lake sitting along the southern shore. There are also a few other lakes along the June Lake Loop, if you desire some paddling variety. Gull, Silver, and Grant Lakes each have a small marina with boat dock, for easy put-in and take-out.  

Mono Lake (Lee Vining)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: shore launch at Navy Beach. There is also a small boat ramp along the southwestern shore, but getting there requires driving 1 mile down a rough dirt road.

Paddle boarding is one of the best ways to experience Mono Lake, as motorized watercraft are outlawed here. Mono is the largest and most famous lake along the 395 corridor, and paddling among its tufa towers is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Here, the rich forests of the Sierra are replaced with a more stark, high desert beauty, but with 65 square miles of water, there’s plenty to explore. Mono Lake is also a popular stopover for bird migrations (it sits on one of North America’s largest migratory paths), so you’ll inevitably share your day with numerous feathered neighbors.

Lundy Lake (Lee Vining)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: either shore launch or boat ramp near Lundy Lake Campground

If you truly want to feel removed from civilization, Lundy is one of the best options along the eastern Sierra corridor. Despite being just 15 minutes from Lee Vining, it’s often forgotten in favor of the larger lakes along this section of the 395. Originally a smaller body of water, it saw a manmade expansion in 1910, to its current 100 acres.

Virginia Lakes (Bridgeport)

Rentals: none
Where to Launch: shore launch from the parking lot

Virginia Lakes gives you three lakes for the price of one, with Big Virginia Lake and Little Virginia Lake sitting on either side of a shared parking lot. And, if you fancy a bit of a portage, Red Lake sits just beyond Big Virginia.

Sitting at nearly 10,000’ elevation, the topography surrounding these lakes can feel a bit more windswept, but with that comes the feeling of truly being immersed in the Sierra backcountry. The accompanying Virginia Lakes Resort, open every June – mid October, dates back to the 1920s and feels like a step back in time. The resort also has a general store, where you can grab a well-deserved snack after your paddle.

Twin Lakes (Bridgeport)

Rentals: yes, at Twin Lakes Resort
Where to Launch: either shore or dock launch at both Twin Lakes Resort and Annett’s Mono Village

Exactly as the name suggests, Twin Lakes is comprised of two nearly identical lakes, tucked back into the high peaks of the Sawtooth Ridge and Sierra Crest.

Each lake has a full-service resort consisting of campsites and cabins, that harken back to 1950s-era Americana family vacations: Mono Village (Upper Twin Lake) and Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin Lake). The resorts also feature both a boat dock and sandy beach for easy put-in and take-out, as well as a café and general store for snacks or an après-paddle bite to eat.

If you’re looking for more paddle boarding in the Sierra Nevada, the east entrance of Yosemite National Park is just a 20-minute drive past Lee Vining. Check out our guide to the best places to paddle board in Yosemite for more details.