Throughout its long existence, salts and minerals have washed into the lake from Eastern Sierran streams. The Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit to this area. The center is located just off Highway 395, north of Lee Vining and includes a variety of exhibits about the natural and human history of the Mono Basin. Visitor center staffmembers stand ready to help you plan your explorations of Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra. Hiking, swimming, boating, and cross-country skiing are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy at this unusual lake.
Photographers come from all over the world to capture the interplay of light, desert, and water.
This spectacular tufa area is the best place to visit if you have time for only one stop. A boardwalk trail below the Mono Lake County Park allows access to the north shore tufa area and marsh. A trail at Panum Crater leads to the dome and crater rim. A swim in Mono Lake is a memorable experience. The lake's salty water is denser than ocean water, and provides a delightfully buoyant swim.