Drive about 1 mile to the parking area. The short trail to the crater begins at the parking lot. About 0.5 mile round-trip. Walk through the tufa towers along the south shore of Mono Lake and see how eerie they are up close. But don't climb on them or take any part of them as a souvenir.
State law protects the tufa.
The towers are created by the combination of the salty lake water and freshwater springs from beneath the lake and beach. The main ingredients are calcium from the fresh water and carbonates from the tufa. The chemical result is the same as limestone. As you walk along the water's edge, stick your toes in and experience how slick it is. If you taste Mono Lake water, it is briny and bitter.