Touring * Fitness * Beginner * Slalom * Artistic *

Benton Crossing Road is a turnoff from U.S. 395, about 5.5 miles southeast of the Mammoth Lakes junction, State Highway 203. Look for the sign for Whitmore; you can't miss it if you also look for the pea-green A-frame church right next to the highway. Turn north here. (If you're an expert at skating up and down long hills park at the church and start skating here.) Drive 6.5 miles north to cross the Owens River and park on the shoulder just around the bend past Brown's Campground. There's a wide enough shoulder on the right near the yellow "Share the Road" sign that seems to be promoting biker (and skater) safety.

Just ten minutes' drive from popular Mammoth Mountain ski area, Benton Crossing Road is the number-one year-round favorite in-line skating destination for expert locals and visitors alike. Yes, you read it right: you really can bring your skates along on a Mammoth ski trip. At a 7,000-foot altitude, Benton Crossing Road is regularly plowed all winter long, but unlike most California roads, it's never sanded to reduce icy conditions. So as long as the pavement is dry and not icy, you can skate.

No matter what time of year you visit the area called the Long Valley, you'll be richly rewarded, because the scenery is truly spectacular. In winter you'll skate between snow banks that can rise up to 12 feet high on each side. On a cold, clear day, you stand a good chance of meeting up with cyclists and joggers, as well as snowshoers and cross-country skiers (who often reward themselves afterwards by going off-road to one of the many natural hot springs scattered across the valley).

In the longer days of spring, there's more daylight to admire the craggy snow-capped peaks towering over the perimeter of Long Valley. Mammoth Mountain dominates the view of the Sierras to the west and south, the Glass Mountain range is close by to the north, and the White Mountains decorate the eastern horizon. After a particularly wet winter, the high peaks will still wear their brilliant white crowns for several months.

On Benton Crossing Road, you are treated to a perfectly straight road that rises gradually--except for one pretty long grade--as you proceed northeast. You'll meet the occasional car going to or from Lake Crowley, but one of the best aspects of skating this road is its low automobile traffic.

After you round the corner to cross the bridge over the Owens River, you'll find new, prime-quality pavement with wide shoulders. The road is very straight with a gradual rise, as it heads southeast for four miles. Watch for gravel at the occasional driveway. At the top of a low hill the road curves downward toward Lake Crowley. While the good pavement continues on (there's nothing to stop you skating all the way to Benton!), the right turn off Benton Crossing Road that goes to the lake makes a good turnaround point. Don't be surprised when you discover that climbing, even gradually, at 7,000 feet is not a light workout!