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There's a whole lot to do around here — and if
you have any questions, you can always ask the folks
at the Visitor Center! Some of these suggestions come
from the Mono
Lake Committee.
Sunset Tours of South Tufa
Join a trained naturalist for a free, one-hour walking
tour of the world-famous South Tufa grove and learn
about Mono Lake's million-year old ecosystem. This one-mile
walk meets daily during the summer months, and is led
by interpreters of the Mono Lake Committee. Tours are
also offered by the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve and
the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. In the winter,
guided walks and cross-country ski tours are conducted
on Saturdays and Sundays. For additional information
about these sunset tours, visit our in-depth Mono
Lake Tour page, written by former Park Ranger, David
Carle. To learn more about the South Tufa, read Tufa
Thoughts, also written by David Carle.
Lee Vining
Creek Tours
Meander along Lee Vining Creek with a trained naturalist,
learn about this Great Basin stream, and discover
how it is being brought back to life. Tours are
offered by the Mono Lake Committee during the summer
months, and pamphlets with self-guided tours are
available at the Information Center. |
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Canoe & Kayak Tours
Explore Mono Lake's unique beauty from a different perspective!
Canoe and kayak tours depart on weekend mornings to
explore groves of tufa spires and float alongside diving
birds. Tours are offered during the summer months only
and reservations are required through the Visitor Center.
An excellent Eastern Sierra Times article, The
Magic of Mono Lake: Sea Kayaking in the Great Basin
provides further information.
Special Summer Field Classes
From birding and wildflowers to photography and hydrology,
join an expert instructor for these in-depth weekend
classes in the Mono Basin. Schedules are available at
the Visitor Center.
Vibrant Fall
Colors
The Lee Vining area is spectacular in autumn. The crowds
are light and the air is crisp and clean. In October
the aspens are dressed in fiery golds and reds. It's
worth a special trip — every autumn. Some of the
locals deem this as the best time of the year —
"the calm before the storm".
Fishing
Try your luck along Lee Vining, Rush, or Mill creeks,
or at Ellery, Tioga, Saddlebag or Lundy lakes. Wherever
you go, you'll find scores of lakes and streams stocked
with trout. Lee Vining shops have bait, tackle, and
the latest information on where the fish are biting.
Consider:
Ellery Lake
Lee Vining Creek
Tioga Lake
Gibbs Lake
Rush Creek
The Tioga Lodge, Lee Vining
The
Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining
Climbing
As Lee Vining is the gateway to Yosemite National Park,
there is an abundance of fine climbing routes available
nearby. Yosemite is world-renowned as a climber's mecca,
and Tuolumne Meadow, a short drive away from Lee Vining,
is certainly one of the Park's finest regions. Yet there
is much more. Here's some selected peaks and routes:
Third Pillar (el. 11,480'+) — East face grade
3 — class 5.10
Mt Conness (el. 12,590') — North Ridge grade 2
— class 5.6
North Peak (el. 12,242') — North Buttress grade
3 — class 5.10
Swimming
Swimming in Mono Lake is an activity that might make
you appreciate this place even more. There are flies
and shrimp and a lot of minerals in the water, but they
won't hurt you. In fact, you can float on your back
and read a newspaper in this super-bouyant water. For
more on the unique experience of swimming in Mono Lake,
read Swimming in Mono
Lake, written by former Park Ranger, David Carle.
Birdwatching
A major stopover on the pacific flyway, Mono Lake
hosts over 98 species of water birds and in 1991 was
dedicated as an International Shorebird Reserve. The
diversity of habitats in the surrounding area creates
a wide range of birding opportunities, including Ouzels,
of course! Visit us in the summer and fall for the best
birdwatching available. Also, read former Park Ranger
David Carle's articles The
Mystery of the Red-eyed Bird and Ouzel
Omens.
Camping
You'll never find campsites more beautiful than those
in Lee Vining and Lundy Canyons and along the June Lake
Loop. Numerous campgrounds are maintained by the Forest
Service and Mono County. Visit the following for further
information on where to camp:
The
Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining
Lee
Vining Chamber of Commerce
Photography
For photographers of all skill levels, the varied and
scenic beauty of the Mono Basin offers endless opportunities.
The Lee Vining region has everything from glacier-clad
mountains and aspen-lined streams to ghost towns and
tufa towers.
Winter Fun
Make Lee Vining your headquarters for skiing, snowmobiling,
ice climbing, and winter recreation. The region is a
cross-country skier's paradise. Nearby June Mountain's
downhill runs delight novice and expert alike. Winter
rates are lower than those at other ski resorts. Most
highways, with the exception of the high Sierra passes
120, 108, and 4, are open year-round.
The Tioga Pass area above Lee Vining is perhaps the
finest roadside spring skiing area in the Sierra. During
the winter months, the Tioga Pass Resort is open with
lodging and meals. In addition, they will furnish you
with a ride up the steep inclines of Lee Vining Canyon,
which is not plowed in winter. Here are a couple options:
Mt Dana (el. 13,057') — 12,000' contour Couloir
class 4
Dana Plateau (el. 11,560) — Chute Out class 4
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