Mono Lake is beautiful in its own way. Tufas are very interesting and the reflection in the water is beautiful. There are nice paths down to the lake and along the shoreline. There's signage explaining why the water levels are where they're at. It's worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

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Visited Mono Lake - South Tufa Trail and did the 1-mile walk around the formations. The place is surreal, especially during sunset when the sky lights up in amazing colors. The tufa towers rising from the lake make the whole scene look otherworldly. There is paid parking per person as noted at the site. What's fascinating is how these tufas form--freshwater springs bring in calcium, which reacts with the carbonate-rich lake water to create calcium carbonate (limestone). Over time, this reaction builds up into the giant rock towers you see today. One quirky detail is the swarms of tiny flies along the shore, which move in waves like something out of the Mummy movies--strange but cool to watch. Overall, an unforgettable spot and a must-visit in Mammoth Lakes. read more

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Beautiful lake with unique tufas that makes it one of a kind. It was so peaceful there and our group even did a return night trek there to see the stars. There are a lot of flies at the water's edge so I don't recommend swimming here. The dirt road off 395 is accessible with most vehicles. Definitely recommend a visit here if you are in the area. read more

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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! read more

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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 read more

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the rocks were nice. I stepped in horse poop. There are a bunch of flies everywhere. I couldn't find a trail from my area and stepped in a bunch of mush. Lady volunteer was nice taught us a lot of stuff read more

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.. read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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! read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Yosemite map with awesome detail - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Definitely get the free tour! It explains a lot. SIgn up at the Mono Lake Committee visitor's center in Lee Vining or online. Parking is free if you have the National Park pass, leave it on the dash of your car. Otherwise three bucks, credit card only. read more

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. read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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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. read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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. read more

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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.

Wow wow wow. Mono Lake is incredible. Well worth a visit if you're in the Yosemite or Mammoth Lakes area. My guidebook of the area tells me that Mono Lake is the second oldest lake in the United States and it's a sight to behold. It's huge and there's a lot to explore, but what you'll really want to see are the tufas. Reach them by following the signs to "South Tufa." There's plenty of parking ($3) and then walk to the shore to see the tufas. Now, what are tufas you might wonder? Take a look at my photos. Those crazy rock formations and columns? Those are tufas. They're underwater calcium formations that went above the water as the water levels dropped in the area. They are amazing (and for music nerds: The inside photo of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was photographed amid the tufas). The water is heavily salted so there are no fish. But there is brine shrimp so there is a bit of a fish smell to the air. But, it's also tremendously beautiful (just ignore the flies) and the water, if you go out a bit, is crystal clear. If you're like me and want to jump in., head to Navy Beach and you can swim and/or launch kayaks or canoes there. I had my bathing suit ready to float in it's salty, bouyant waters, but a storm rolling in only allowed me to wade in calf deep a bit. The water is cold and if you have any knicks on your skin, they'll sting, but it's fantastic. Rocky bottom so if you intend to swim, break some aquasocks. Or, just walk around and enjoy the incredible sights that mother nature has built of us to take in. read more

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Great place to stop and enjoy Mono Lake. Beautiful at sunset. Parking and a pit toilet are available here. Fee station can be found at the end of the parking lot. read more

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This is such a pretty area! I had not previously taken this route on 41 and was impressed all along the way. I was especially pleased with this viewpoint on one end of the lake. There were not many other tourists and the lake was very serene. I thought the bumper stickers people left behind were an added fun feature. read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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Located right off the 395. Parking is $3. Beautiful sunrises can be seen here. Short walk to the tufas. I recommend this stop for people with limited mobility. Although there is no access to the water for wheelchairs the walk to the water is short. The tufas are another story. Visited August 3, 2017 and there was a volunteer available to answer all your questions about the lake and surrounding areas. She even had a telescope up to view a osprey nest. Pretty cool. We love Mono Lake. Even though we didn't get up those time around for sunrise, i will always have the memories and photos from last year's views. If you want a nice walk and closer tufas experience, drove to the south tufas just south of Lee Vining. read more

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Either you bring the water to L.A. or you bring L.A. to the water -- Noah Cross, "Chinatown" And bringing water to LA almost destroyed this lake. Thankfully conservation efforts combined with a major victory in court have slowly brought Mono Lake back to life. Of course my son has an interesting perspective on this. "The Lake was almost destroyed by diverting water to LA" "Why did LA need the water?" "For the growing population of California?" "Well then don't humans need the water more then the lake?" "Well, the Lake is important ecologically for the birds who feed on the shrimp in the Lake" "Aren't we more important?" Dam'n you my little Aristotle! Of course, the situation is very complex as I got to thinking about this. My grandparents moved to CA along with the large migratory shift that was occurring. I was born in LA County as the result of my Mom marrying her HS sweetheart . My son of course was born as the result. So if no water diversion from places like Mono or Colorado, means no large population increases. May mean my mom doesn't get raised in CA...which means maybe I do not get born and therefore my son. Puts a new spin on my knee-jerk environmental response ne'st pas? Anyway, what sparked this conversation of course was a visit here after lunch at Mono Cone. We started with the very cool visitors center which has a nice display and film discussing the environment and effects of mankind on the lake. There are also trails from here that lead down to the lake. After visiting here, we drove out to the South Tufa reserve which has the best looking of the Tufa's (Not Tofu, Tufa) that dot the shoreline. From a conservation website Tufa's form: As the calcium comes in contact with carbonates in the lake, a chemical reaction occurs resulting in calcium carbonate--limestone. The calcium carbonate precipitates (settles out of solution as a solid) around the spring, and over the course of decades to centuries, a tufa tower will grow. Tufa towers grow exclusively underwater, and some grow to heights of over 30 feet. The reason visitors see so much tufa around Mono Lake today is because the lake level fell dramatically after water diversions began in 1941. I have a few photos which I will post like others have. There are several great trails in this area and some wonderful photographic spots. Fee here is only $3.00. We only spent a couple of hours but you could easily double that time, take a ranger led tour or take a kayaking tour. It really is a wondrous place...highly recommended. read more

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What are those? We stopped by here on two separate occasions during road trips on our way to Las Vegas. We drove to Mono Lake Basin on 395 to view the scenery and walk along the short trails, educating ourselves from reading the signs posted along the Mono Basin Visitor Center. We arrived here early morning and was not able to wait for the Visitor Center to open but we did view a beautiful sunrise that morning. There is also a museum just nearby... but what became interesting was from looking across the lake there were these... these things, we didn't know what they were, they looked like some kind of formation that grew from the lake. Directions from the Visitor Center said to drive 5-miles south on U.S. 395, turn left on Hwy 120 East and follow the signs to South Tufa... so we did! We had to check it out! As we drove closer and closer to the location we noticed rows and rows of cream-colored rock towers. These are called tufa. We parked our car (there is actually a designated parking area) and walked the trails. There are restrooms as well, did not have to use it so I don't know how it is inside. We walked through a grove of tufa towers formed by underwater springs in the saline and alkaline lake. South Tufa would be the best place to begin a little exploration of Mono Lake. We followed the self-guided trails and educated ourselves on Mono Lake's unusual water, rocks and wildlife. We found out that this was often a stop for visitors. At one point we saw some professional photographers take some photos of these... these things! South Tufa is a living lake! It is a vital habitat for millions of migratory and nesting birds..The trail, which is about a mile long, winds along the shoreline and among the tufa towers surrounding us with unusual beauty. As the lake level dropped, the tufa towers were exposed and the springs that formed them dried up. It was quite a scenery especially when you have the beautiful mountains in the background. On one of the signs it read that "these "tufa" towers were hidden under water, but today they stand above the water level like an odd, abandoned city." It was eerily fascinating. Review #0334 read more

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Mono Lake was on our to do list for our road trip up the 395. So coming from Mammoth, just watch for signs that say Moni Lake Tufa Reserve. You turn right off the 395, and even though it says road closed 6 miles ahead, stay on the road cuz you turn off before the road closed area. There is a fee stand, we put our $3.00 in the canister. Plenty of parking. Toilets too. The trail loops around so we walked the loop. The tufas were pretty cool. Good place to take pics! read more

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My second time at Mono Lake but first time seeing tufa during the day time. The first time I was there in last fall , it was pitch dark and saw gazillion stars and could see the Milky Way so clearly. The sky was full of stars. Nothing like I'd ever seen before. Jaw dropping out of this world effn amazing. This time we went just before the sunset. It was the most beautiful sunset I'd ever seen , sun going down behind the Eastern Sierra mountains. The shape of tufa during the sunset is pretty cool , you get the sun and the shadow on tufa and the lake. We saw quite a few photographers there. From the parking lot , it's an easy walk to the lake. You can either take the paved trail or the dirt trail. You can get up and close to the tufa from the dirt trail , highly recommend taking it. Once it gets dark , it's pretty hard to find the dirt trail without flashlights or headlamps. I'd take the paved trail when dark. Tufa are calcium carbonate made by precipitation from water , an alkaline lake and 3 million years in making. Pretty cool sight to see. 3$ parking but free if you have a National Park pass. Just display your pass on the dashboard. Totally worth seeing if you are in Lee Vining or in the area. read more

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This weekend, I watched a heavy rain turn a placid lake into a rollicking sea. Now that the waters of Mono Lake are rising due to conservation methods, the calcium carbonate tufa towers seem like ghost ships on an ocean. Darkened clouds and heavy winds made the tufa formations appear to move against the battering waves. This is progress. Mono Lake is roaring back to life and it's gaining on its goal to reach 6,392 feet in depth. That's still 25 feet below its 1941 level, but its easy to notice the increased numbers of birds who appreciate the larger size of the lake. Of course, the boardwalk trail to the water's edge will get shorter as more shoreline is reclaimed by the lake, so the next generation will take fewer steps than you as they gaze upon the Mono Sea. read more

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Mono Lake is one of California's unique bodies of salt water. It was the focus of a controversial NASA study in 2010. It suggested that some bacteria at Mono Lake had adapted to using arsenic for life. That would have meant similar, alien lifeforms would be possible in the galaxy. The research was mostly contradicted in 2012. Make sure you stop at both the visitor's center and the lower parking lot at lake level. There's a nice, long boardwalk to the edge of the lake with good views of the salt formations. read more

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Looking for a short hike with lots to see and explore? This is the spot. Excellent State Reserve for birdwatching, learning about Tufas, the history of Mono Lake and how it was created, and the adjacent areas. Take time to explore the beach area which has a unique ecosystem of flies and shrimp. Bring water because there is no shade. Vault toilets are available at the trailhead. There is also a small parking fee. I have taken my family here twice to explore and they absolutely love it. read more

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A really gorgeous place to visit I truly was taken by the stone formations and history of the Tufas~* reminded me of how I felt on my first visit to the Salton Sea, Bombay beach eleven years ago when all the houses were still on the beach. Sadly, people have stolen all the abandoned houses of salton sea so it's no longer a ghost town near the water. This was a gorgeous view of how unique nature truly can be. read more

Funky time natural park (natural wonder?) in the shadow of Yosemite and Mammoth. It's hard to compete with those two, but Mono Lake is truly a unique and worth-seeing geologic anomaly just off the 395 Highway, right by Tioga Pass. We came here looking to kill some time at the end of the day, and despite the somewhat otherworldly ambiance of the lake, it was a peaceful and calm way to spend sunset and early evening. If you mostly want to sight see, the main place to park and walk around is the South Tufa Grove. You can easily wander for a solid hour or so among the bizarrely shaped tufa columns. If you have even an inkling of an interest in unusual natural phenomenon then this is easily the place for you. Several informative plaques and signs are available as you amble about at your leisure explaining the formation of the tufas, the local ecology, and the hopeful future for Mono Lake as a whole. read more

The view of the lake is amazing, particularly in the morning and sunset. First time, I saw it from the top of Mt. Dana. I am glad to finally visit the town and the reserve. We took guided sunset tour and morning kayak tour with Friends of Mono Lake Reserve, and learned about the history and conservation. I don't think our visit to Yosemite is complete without the experience here, which made us more aware of how precious the water is and all the politics associated with it. read more

Clint knew best!! A short personal story here. When I was about 14 or 15 I saw Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter" for the first time. The story of the movie takes place in the small town of Lago next to a small lake. As a kid I was fascinated by the surroundings whenever the camera wondered around. This was in 1977-78 and I had no idea where Mono Lake was. About 3 decades later I moved to California and by then I had read and learned more about Mono Lake so when I wanted to visit Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve for the first time I was dead curious about the filming location, but there was one little problem, Lago burned down at the end of the movie and there was nothing left of it!! Fortunately after a fair amount of time looking on the Internet, I ran into the GPS coordinates! There is nothing left of the site, except the fact that where the base of the buildings were, there is less shrub growth! You can almost see the squares, almost. Today, the mono lake is a far more popular destination than it was decades ago and thanks to the efforts of Mono Lake Committee and other concerned citizens, it has been saved from turning into a dry salt lake. There are a couple of very easy to access sites where you can drive your car, stop and walk/hike the very easy hiking trails. There are many spots that offer magnificent photo opportunities. If you are a hardcore hiker and/or photographer who does not mind hiking the slightly harder trails, you have even more to discover and enjoy. My recommendation is to stop at the visitor center which is right of US Route 395. I have written a review about it here (Scroll down a bit on the list of my reviews and you'll see it). The rangers are extremely helpful and you will get all the answers you need before you decide where to go to get the most of this beautiful area. read more

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Mono Lake is really remote. This lake is on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains and really requires some advanced planning to reach. The Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve is one of the more interesting parts of the lake located on the southwestern shore best accessed from Highway 395 south of Lee Vining. The turnoff is a big south of the main junctions, but it is the fastest route. Once you park and pay your fee, you can walk the wooden boardwalk towards the tufa. The route is dotted with signs explaining the area and the formations with constant reminders to not touch, climb, taunt, or anger the tufa. Walking around the formations is very eerie with a surreal landscape with amazing backdrops of the lake and the mountains. Several small coves allow you to see the brine shrimp and flies that inhabit the area. The main trail can be hiked in about an hour with several stops for pictures. It takes an extra 20-30 minutes to drive and hike here from the main visitor center, but you get a much richer experience among the tufa. There are few places on Earth with such weird and interesting landscapes. It is really worth a stop if you are driving down Highway 395 or staying in the area. read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Mono Lake Tufa - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

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Like the Trona Pinnacles but on water. The walks not that far from the parking area. Being a few singles dollars for the mandatory parking fee. The weather changed from cool to warm to cloudy to sunny to raining to cold and back warm all within an hour. Loved this place. There is one bench to sit and relax at in the path to the Pinnacles/tuffas. Your about a one to two minute walk away from the water when you see this bench and the walkway turns to a wooden path. ANIMALS ALLOWED. YES PARKING , approx $3.00 or more. 3 to stay for the day only. read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Perfect weather. Clouds always add for a great backdrop addition - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California

South Tufa Trail is extremely enjoyable and easy to hike. There are plenty of Tufa here and you will be able to see the lake almost the whole time. This is one of the oldest lakes in Northern America. This is actually one of my favorite places ever because of the formations " which show what nature can do with a few basic elements. The strange spires and knobs are formed when fresh water springs containing calcium bubble up through the carbonate-rich lake water." -USDA. read more

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This is the SOUTHERN tufa (there's a northern one as well) and you have to drive off the 395 to get to here. Follow the signs :D You'll get to a small parking area in which you have to pay $3 pp (children under 15 are free). You'll get a pass to put in the car. Then you'll walk down the path... You get to enjoy the stalagmites (oh gosh. science terms) that were formed underwater and grew this way, but now has actually risen up and now you can see em. Follow the path to the other side, where you will see birds and little insects being eaten by the birds. There are volunteers here that will help you see other sights and give you background (yes... LA basin drained the lake, a little too much).... it's so salty that you can actually smell the salt when you get nearby. Saltier than the ocean because of the fact that the water level has been lower- if it goes back to the 1940s original depth, then it'll be fine. Follow the path, go all the way around, circle around and enjoy Mono Lake. You can also make your way up to nearby Navy Beach, a mile the to the East of this place. You walk back and you enjoy the views. There are nice mountain views if you have a sunny and clear day (: Around Lee Vining, in case you ever wanted to go :) OH and be careful- road is not paved partially. read more

There are very interesting 10-20 feet tall mineral formations in this one of the oldest lakes around... the lake is 3X saltier than the ocean and home to hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife. It was a neat stop on our road trip read more

****************** * Review #150 * ****************** During the first day of our road trip, we were passing by Mono Lake and decided to stop and check out the lake and the Tufas. The Tufa state reserve is actual a few miles South East of the Mono Lake visitors center area. To get there, you have to turn down this little road which is nothing but gravel. By car its fine, but some of my friends were on their Vespas so it was a bit hair-raising to watch and follow behind them in the SUV. At the end is a parking lot, info kiosks, and restrooms (maybe porto potties?). There is a path leading to the lake and the tufas. As you walk along, there are short tufas on both sides of the path. You'll also see dashed brass markers. The markers indicate the water level at a certain year. Over the years, the water level has been dropping significantly as the water has been siphoned off for use in the LA area. Pretty sad ... At the end, you'll be along the water and see the larger tufas. The tufas kind of look like super large sponges or coral you'd see in the ocean. There are birds and large swarms of flies. The Tufas are pretty cool to see. Its just sad that you can see them only because the water level has dropped so drastically. Though there are signs posted warning against it, you can tell people hacked off mini parts of the Tufas to take home. This is definitely a must see if you're around this area. Beware, it gets hot Hot HOT in the summertime. Tufa : http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/ly6gGTJ4tJcEoH70DtPrYA/l read more

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Lakes Near Me - Lee Vining, California