BY PLANE
The closest commercial airport is in Reno, Nevada. From Reno, drive south on U.S. Highway 395 for approximately 3 hours (170 miles) to State Route 203.
BY CAR
From U.S. Highway 395, drive 10 miles west on S.R. 203 to Minaret Vista and then another 8 miles on a paved, steep mountain road. Please note that this road is single lane for approximately 3 miles.
Most visitors must park at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and use the mandatory shuttle. The shuttle bus operates from mid-June through the end of September.
Exceptions to the shuttle system are those visitors who drive into the Valley before 7:00am or after 7:30pm, or who are overnight guests of Reds Meadow Resort, who are camping within the Reds Meadow Valley, who are hauling stock trailers, whose vehicles are carrying small watercraft for use in the lakes, or who can provide proof of physical handicap.
All visitors to the area, whether they take the mandatory shuttle bus or drive their personal vehicle, must pay a transportation fee. The fees are as follows: $7 for adults, $4 for children (3 to 15 years of age), or a $20.00 car cap for groups who are staying overnight in Reds Meadow Valley. Season passes are available for $35.00. Golden Passports, America the Beautiful, and National Park Passes are not valid for this transportation fee under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. For more about this fee, click here.
Shuttle bus tickets can be purchased at the Forest Service Adventure Center located in the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Gondola Building adjacent to the Mammoth Mountain Inn at the top of Highway 203. Buses run every 20 or 30 minutes.
BY BICYCLE
For those visitors keen to bike down to the Postpile, bicycles are allowed down the road free of charge. If, however, visitors choose not to ride back out of the Valley and opt to use the shuttle instead, they must pay the transportation fee. The shuttle buses are equipped to transport bicycles. For more information about biking, click here.
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