Mono Lake

[beastie]

Can anyone provide information about campsites in Mono Lake?

I’m planning a trip with a friend and it will be her first outing; I would like the experience to be a positive one. It would be ideal to camp at a place that has running water/showers and also pleasant to relax for a few days. All practical info is welcome.

Also, are there some easy hikes around the lake?

Thanks in advance!

[zippetydude]

Hmmm. You know, beastie, Mono is an interesting place to visit, but I'm not sure I'd want to camp there.

On the other side of the 395 going up the 120 towards Yosemite, there are several very nice campgrounds that are plenty close to Mono. If you're dead set on Mono, I don't really have any recommendations on camping.

However, there's a cool place to visit (I forget the name, it's a crater from an extinct volcano) where you can pick up huge stones (pumice) that weigh just a couple of pounds, or find amazing chunks of obsidian in clear, black, red, and a few other colors. Just a short drive from the 395, and the trailhead starts out actually at the crater itself, so you don't have to hike in to get there. A great little side trip if you're interested.

Hope this helps!

z

[Hikin_Jim]

Mono lake is interesting to visit, but it's not really what I would call nice. The alkali flies aren't much fun. I'd stay in Mammoth Lakes or June Lakes and visit Mono Lake by day. Mammoth or June are far more scenic. Alternatively, staying somewhere along the 120 as it climbs toward Tioga Pass is a good option.

Might be a bit cold at night this time of year.

HJ

[Blooty]

Do not let the naysayers deter you from a trip to Mono Lake. There is a lot more to do there than originally meets the eye.

On the other side of the 395 going up the 120 towards Yosemite, there are several very nice campgrounds that are plenty close to Mono. However, there's a cool place to visit (I forget the name, it's a crater from an extinct volcano) z

You will see the sign for the above-mentioned crater as you turn off 395 towards the south Tufa. It is approx 1/2 mile from the road to the crater towards the lake. I don't know the name of that crater off the top of my head, either. Further down that road (I believe it is Hwy 120 east), there are campgrounds as well as a road to three other pumice craters that are more of a hike and at a higher elevation. There was a fire in that area near some lumber mill, but still a pretty area. I am not sure what kind of facilities the campgrounds have.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Kevin]

I've always found lots to see and do in the Mono Lake area. They have a website which may be a good starting point.http://www.monolake.org/index.html

[beastie]

The trip to Mono Lake was a success! Thanks to all of you for the helpful information.

Mono Lake was interesting as mentioned and the Inyo Forest was very impressive. Although visiting the lake was the reason for the trip seeing the Eastern Sierra Mountains ended being the true pleasure. The fall colors were in full bloom (Oct 23-27) so the drives that we did and photos we snapped are memorable.

The Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining provided a map and information for the campgrounds. Most of the campgrounds were closed because it was late in the season but there were a few still open; we opted to camp at Aspen Campground (just off the 120 & a few miles from Lee Vining) and it was just right. The few campgrounds we looked at had bear lockers and some type of fire rings. The weather was ideal during the day (high 70s) and a tad cold at night (Mid 30s). There are several lakes and creeks easily accessible for anglers. June Lake was especially an enjoyment to visit; we decided not to camp there because the sites that were open are near the main road.

Notes: The drive from L.A. was about 6-hours (at a leisurely pace) with the occasional coffee stop. The Lee Vining Area Campgrounds cost ranged from $14 to $17. Campgrounds are closed from November through May. And if you have a bag of chips make sure to open it before heading to the higher elevation; as we past the 6000’ marker there was an explosion and we thought it was a shotgun blast or the car backfiring; it was just the bag of chips in the backseat. It was funny afterward.

I greatly recommend visiting the Eastern Sierra Mountains!

[Hikin_Jim]

...as we past the 6000’ marker there was an explosion and we thought it was a shotgun blast or the car backfiring; it was just the bag of chips in the backseat. It was funny afterward.

I greatly recommend visiting the Eastern Sierra Mountains!

Good TR, and yes the Eastern Sierra is a great place.

[zippetydude]

beastie: Thanks for getting back to us on how it went. I'm glad you had a chance to check out June Lake and along the 120.

If you have the chance to go back again, I'd highly recommend going on up the 120 into Yosemite and staying in Tuolumne Meadows. It's amazingly beautiful, and there are lakes and rivers and granite domes and other meadows and mountaintops, all within pretty short distances of the camp. My favorite place on the planet.

Thanks again for the TR.

z

[SummitGreen]

I'm another Mono Lake Enthusiast! I always visit the tufas on the south side, then the most recent extinct volcano.

Did any of you guys visit the Mobil Station on 120/395 junction? THe restaurant inside serves pizzas, ribs, steaks, desserts =)

[phydeux]

I'm more of an "east-side-of-the-Owens Valley" person, rarely venturing into the Sierra Nevada anymore.

The three craters mentioned above are (north to south) Panum Crater (nearest the lake), Crater Mtn, and South Crater. All are pretty easy dayhikes, but wear hiking shoes with good tough soles - the volcanic rock will eat 'em up.

Another good hike is Glass Mountain - farther south on E-120, up a dirt road before getting to Benton Road. There are "primitive" campsites near the roads end, and the monutain is a fairly striaghtforward hike. Great views of the whole valley towards Mammoth Lakes, and lots of obsidian on the slopes.