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    Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

    4.6 (154 reviews)

    Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve Photos

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    The Tufas are really cool, and I love that it is a nesting area for birds!
    Linda R.

    Mono Lake is a nice stop at the end or beginning, depending on which way you go, of the Tioga Pass. The Mono Lake area was new to me. My husband had heard of it because he is a huge Pink Floyd fan and a geologist. If you are a Pink Floyd fan, Mono Lake is featured on the Wish You Were Here inner album sleeve. Unfortunately, the water level has dropped a lot since 1975. It is a saline lake that supports a unique and productive ecosystem. The lake has trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies and is a nesting area for birds. The tufa towers are beautiful and worth a close up view. After some internet research, I learned that the South area is the best area to view the tufa towers. After visiting the area, I have to agree. There is a $3 charge to walk the paths, or you can use your National Park's Pass. There are two paths, and they connect and lead back to the parking lot. Beautiful Views!

    Ed T.

    This review is for South Tufa Loop Trail which was a ~0.8 miles round trip that took ~25 mins to complete. Short and easy with unique views of tufa towers and Mono Lake! Worth stopping by only if you're near Mammoth Lakes. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/2JMLkz1hyTg

    Rhonda W.

    Very interesting Gorgeous place. unusual rocky formations (tufa) make this place one of a kind must see. Several things make this great location for photography and birds. There are tiny bine shrimp and some tiny fly that the birds love .. the flies didn't bother people. The tufa formations are shelter and home to birds. layers of mountains frame the very blue water and Tufa formations. The water is 8 times more salty than the ocean and very alkaline so good for your skin. I guess they don't mind you swimming but not totally sure about that. they do have kayaking. We only had a short time and lots of driving to get from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite but made a point to stopping here to check it out. my husband is a vet so a lifetime pass for national parks so we didn't have to buy anything or pay. We came in late September and the water was nice but not warm enough to swim. I was hoping there wouldn't be a breeze and get the stunning reelections in the lake. But there was a breeze so no reflections ... wish i had the time to see this place at sunset or sunrise. saw different birds and chipmunks. Visitors center is nice. nice bathrooms. There is a wooden boardwalk to the lake..

    Boardwalk
    Debra R.

    A great stop along the 395. The boardwalk can be accessed on the north side of the lake from the Mono County Park on the lake's north shore. It is a fascinating place, with interesting history and incredible mountain views. The tufa and beautiful lake color are worth a boardwalk. The county park has parking, flush toilets, picnic tables, and a playground with a climbing wall.

    Angie S.

    Beautiful reserve. Do note that you need a parking pass for this place, either buy online or I think you can check out a california parks pass from the library and have the parking waived. Didn't get to walk to the tufas cause my dog threw up but it was nice from afar

    Yosemite map with awesome detail
    Mary B.

    Beautiful! Easy stop between Mammoth, Yosemite and South Lake Tahoe off 395. They do not charge for the museum or facility grounds, but do provide opportunity to donate and I suggest you do or shop at the store to support the cause. - Free entry - went on a Thurs mid day, about 20 ppl there, no lines super easy - gift store has clothing, books, jewelry, hats, candles etc. lots of gift options - very interesting history tied back to early 1900s. - great photo opps - parking is free - prob need and hour or so to take it all in - bathrooms are clean!

    05.28.21
    Harlee S.

    I have been to Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve twice now and it's still just as magical. Parking isn't huge, but there are just enough spots for how little traffic there is. There is moderate to light foot traffic depending on the time of day. There is no shade as everything is out in the open and it does get fairly hot in the summer months. I believe that there are two trails, a short one and longer one which takes you out to Navy Beach. The trail starts off paved and then transitions into sand for most of the way. Yes, there are a bajillion flies, but they are essential to the ecosystem that thrives here. There are multiple signs stating information about the ecosystem and the tufa, which I wouldn't skip over as it gives you a lot of insight into the reserve. The tufa are something like you've never seen before. They are each so unique and different. The views are amazing and you can get some great photos. You can take a swim in the water if you dare and supposedly it's so salty that you can float. Overall, this is a great place for the views and for taking a short or lengthier hike.

    Walkway to the lake
    Jennifer M.

    Nice stop on the way to Tahoe. Picnic tables, parking and a place to stretch your legs, beautiful views. The ground off the walkway is marshy and your shoes are likely to get wet or muddy. The rocks near the water are sharp like concrete and there are places with a lot of flies. The lake is typically very clear in the summer , the shrimp population was low so the lake was not very clear.

    Robbie R.

    This is a must come spot to see something you'll never see anywhere else on this planet. This site was used on a Pink Floyd album cover I hear. Maybe a little before my time, but the spot is famous. Made of Calcium carbonate these towers form as fresh water springs flow out and mix with the super salty waters of Mono Lake. Yep, you can wade in and float real easy! It's a bit of a walk to the lake from the parking lot, but at least it's flat. Best times are at sunrise or sunset. Middle of the day in the summer is not a good idea. Bring you cameras, yep, lotta peeps doing selfies here.

    Keo N.

    Come in the evenings where the light is ever so gentle, the breezes caressing the landscape and birds fly in flocks seemingly skipping across calm blue waters.

    Hyon K.

    This is my first time visiting the southern part of Mono lake. Compared to the location further north, this one has clean restroom and walk way that leads you directly to the lake. Tufas here are bigger and much closer up than the other locations. They both have their own unique features so I suggest that you stop by another location if time permits. They ask for $3 parking in an envelop so if you come with dollar bills, it would be easy to pay for parking. Getting there on the dirt road feels like forever but you will get there and enjoy a nice walk & view.

    Sushant Z.

    Nice stop for a nature walk and relaxing views of the tufa towers. We saw lots of different migrant birds and the algae in the water was interesting. Some complaints in other reviews about the flies on the surface of the water. If they had read the signs and park brochure they would see how essential these flies are to the ecosystem there. We also headed to Navy Beach to see some free-standing sand tufas. Pretty cool. Our family likes seeing odd and strange structures (like tufas) they are unlike anywhere else. This was a short drive from Mammoth and worth it for us.

    Gordon V.

    Exploring the Mono Basin was beautiful. The visitor center has a panoramic view of the lake and you can see the trails below. I started my trail from the visitor center, however it got pretty thick with brush and I was apprehensive about running into a rattlesnake. I then found a road that actually is perfect to hike on and not worry about snakes. There is a cool cave see pics for name and information. After hiking I drove down the road where it ended to a flooded area, people were fishing. We took the road to the left towards the water, it was a one lane, one vehicle, rough terrain dirt road. Lots of boulders and no where to turn off if another car is headed towards you. Once we got the the waterfront there were a lot of birders, some people swimming ( not sure the water is safe to swim in), there was a small dock, and beautiful views. Wear sunscreen there is little shelter and not a lot of trees.

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    It's interesting for about 30 minutes. Otherwise nothing to write home about. If you're passing through, it's worth a visit.

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    Ask the Community - Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

    Review Highlights - Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

    There are also a lot of brine shrimp in the water, although I can't say that I saw any while there.

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    20 Lakes Basin Loop

    20 Lakes Basin Loop

    5.0(3 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    We didn't see 20 lakes in the basin but enjoying nine peaceful mountain lakes during a single day…read morehike was darn fabulous. Located outside the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, 2.5 miles of dirt road is crossed to reach the trailhead at the closed Saddlebag Lake Resort at 10087 Saddlebag Lake Road. As a former resort, the location has lots of parking but since the closed buildings meant no running water and an outhouse toilet. The often-closed Tioga Road (aka Hwy 120) must be open to get to Saddlebag. For a longer and harder hike, the basin loop can be reached by going up Lundy Canyon located north of Lee Vining and might be an alternative starting point if Tioga is closed. The loop can begin by heading left across the dam, but we went right around eastern side of Saddlebag Lake - the largest and only man-made lake of the hike. The western side is rocky talus while the eastern trail around Saddlebag Lake is longer but has a more comfortable walking surface that was preferred by people fishing in the lake. The remaining lakes appear at regular half-mile intervals with each having their own flavor. The first set of lakes were small and serene Hummingbird Lake, deep and eerie Odell Lake, and classically graceful Lake Helen. We then took a worthwhile and brief side trip down to Lundy Canyon to the cascading Lundy Canyon Falls. We resumed on the loop to see our favorite Shamrock Lake with multiple little peninsulas poking into the lake which was followed by narrow inlet-like Excelsior Lake, cliff-sided Steelhead Lake below the Sphinx-ish Shepherd Crest, unremarkable Wasco Lake, and meadowy Greenstone Lake before returning along the opposite side of Saddlebag Lake. Maps showed two trails between Steelhead and Wasco Lakes. The western trail is incomplete but also led to the best geology with bold green layered rocks. Our hike was 9.3 miles to circle around nine lakes and one waterfall. The elevation varied from 9,900' to 10,400'. Never steep, the terrain rolled up and down which felt like a 1000' elevation change hike. The paths were mostly exposed with few trees. Located in a true basin, the lakes were surrounded by peaks and ridges. Icy snow pockets that survived the summer ensured water flow through the creeks and lakes.

    Hiked this as an overnight backpacking trip with 2 friends in late July, it was the most beautiful…read moreamazing hike I've done and seen in a very long time. Drove up from San Diego the night before and tried to get a camping spot at ~7K feet altitude to get adjusted but all the campsites were full, so ended up camping overnight at disbursed camping down the road (still up at altitude, just no facilities and no fires allowed). Woke up in the morning and made a quick stop at Whoa Nellie Deli to use the bathroom, fill up on water etc. And then drove the very rocky road up to the trailhead. I have a Subaru Impreza, all wheel drive but not a lot of lift, so it was doable, but would have definitely felt better in an SUV, although I also saw a Prius in the parking lot so any car can make it I guess. Parked in the parking lot, there are bear boxes there to leave everything from your car that you're not bringing with you on your backs (also bring a bear canister if you're doing overnight!). Then we headed out. We hiked around the north side of Saddlebag lake, which was beautiful, and a little more crowded as a lot of day hikers just hike that lake. We then took the turn off to the right to head up to the rest of the lakes. On day 1 we did about 6 1/2 miles. We kept passing beautiful lake after beautiful lake. There was a point where we were hiking down a pretty steep climb and it started hailing on us! I was relieved we were hiking down at that point and not up with our packs on. I'd recommend having alltrails map downloaded as there are literally no trail markers, there would have been really know what to know which way to go without it. So we kept hiking and climbing, up and down, around more and more lakes. And then we setup camp for the night around Greenstone Lake. Night 1 was Friday night and was very quiet, no other over-nighters around. Night 2 was a Saturday, and it got a bit more crowded. Nothing too crazy, but there were definitely others in sight and ear-shot. We setup for 2 nights, and then did a day hike the next morning up to Conness Lake which was actually possibly the most beautiful lake I've ever seen in my entire life. I even went swimming in the freezing water! On our last day we woke up in the morning, packed up, and hiked out the remaining 3ish miles back around the bottom of Saddlebag Lake.

    Photos
    20 Lakes Basin Loop
    20 Lakes Basin Loop
    20 Lakes Basin Loop

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    Aspen campground - There are so many aspen trees in this area.

    Aspen campground

    4.6(12 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    Aspen trees for miles…read more I always make a point to stop here just to witness the Aspens changing color, a breathtaking transformation that typically peaks in late October. It's absolutely worth the short detour. Located approximately 20 mins from Yosemite's entrance at Tioga Pass. These golden groves are located just before the entrance to the campground. While I'm not much of a camper myself, I did stroll through the site to get a feel for it just incase I ever change and become a camper. It's serene, quiet, and beautifully nestled alongside Lee Vining Creek. The area is shaded by trees and offers amenities like restrooms and picnic tables. If camping is your thing, I recommend checking out their website for more details. Even if you're not into camping, catching the Aspens in their autumn glory should be on your list if you're in the area between late October and early November.

    I'm very hesitant to review this campground, because we wanted to keep this special Eastern Sierra…read moreNevada hideaway all to ourselves. We arrived on a Friday afternoon without a reservation, and began to mildly panic one we learned most of the sites had already been taken. Luckily we came across some super friendly Aspen Campground regulars, who invited us to share their double site which just happened to be situated in a prime spot right next to the beautifully bustling river - SCORE! The Big draw to Aspen is hands down the fishing. It just so happened that right before we arrived the local hatchery dropped a load of fresh trouts, ready to be hooked! This was my first time fishing, and I was able to catch (and Cook) my very first fish! If you like to fish and you like to camp, going to Aspen is a no brainer. The trees are also large and plentiful, so if you come, don't forget to pack your hammock!

    Photos
    Aspen campground - Looking west from Highway 120 towards Aspen Campground

    Looking west from Highway 120 towards Aspen Campground

    Aspen campground
    Aspen campground

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    Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - lakes - Updated July 2026

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