Leon Turnbull Photography

The outlet stream to the Triplet, er I mean Twin Lakes is called Mammoth Creek. It drops through a scenic little canyon on its descent to Mammoth Lakes village, and it creates some waterfalls along the way. Right below the bridge at the outlet to the lake, you can find this splendid little 33 ft. high cascade. There is a little trail leading down to it, and it is not too difficult. When the snow has melted more, I think you could get right down to the base and get in the creek if you so desired (which I would, of course). But this day, that snow on the bank was complete ice, and had I attempted to get down there, I would have taken a nasty tumble into the creek, and been washed downstream. So, I took this photo instead from a rather safe, but still scenic, vantage point.

Now if you have Chris Shaffer’s Waterfalls book you may know he mentions Mammoth Creek Falls in it as well. But it is not this waterfall. There is, apparently, another nice little waterfall on Mammoth Creek further downstream from here. I did try to find this other waterfall. But I could not find the “trail” he referred to in this book, and despite annoying some deer having breakfast, I could not see any way through the thick manzanita brush down to the lower falls. I initially concluded that Shaffer was actually referring to this waterfall I have pictured here, and his directions in the book were just really out of whack. However, upon further thought, I realize he is indeed referring to another waterfall further downstream. I do not understand, however, why he made no mention at all of this nice cascade on Mammoth Creek, which is quite easy to reach, and is certainly no slouch in terms waterfallity (is that a word? well, it is now).