Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop

Lee Vining, California

4.4/5

based on 7 reviews

Save

View all 14 photos

All 14 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

0.91 miles

Elevation Gain

39 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Justin Ritucci

Explore one of the oldest lakes in North America. Photograph the unique shoreline. Duration: 1-2 hours.

Mono Lake is was formed at least 760,000 years ago, making it one of North America's oldest lake. Explore the coastline of this unique lake filled with unusual rock formations called tufas. Photograph the tufa towers with the majestic mountains in the background. The towers can make for some very dramatic photos, especially at sunset.

The water has a very high salt levels which makes a swim in the lake a very memorable experience. Boats are also allowed on the lake. Mono lake is also a very popular spot for bird photography.

The South Tufa Loop is a short (less than a mile) loop, which offers great views of Mono Lake and your chance to capture a shot of the tufas.

Consider a stop at Mono Cone for a delicious treat before/after your visit.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Fishing

Photography

Hiking

Bathrooms

Beach

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Lake

Scenic

Wildlife

Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop Reviews

Gregg Boydston

Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop

02/07/15

Many different locations to visit around the lake. Can be very windy but offered some great bird watching and photography opportunities. They do ask that you donate at the South Tufa entrance. Also, Lee Vining has a couple shops with information about the lake and its history. Free stickers!

5.0

Rebecca Thomas

Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop

01/23/15

Such a fascinating place and definitely offers many photographic opportunities, especially for starry night skies. Beautiful place to visit!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Explore the Mono Lake Tufas under the Milky Way

This past spring, I got the urge to photograph the Milky Way over the other-worldly landscape of Mono Lake, a large, desert saline lake at the edge of the eastern Sierras in California. One of the the lake's defining features is it’s incredible tufa rock formations, a variety of limestone. The eastern Sierra is also known for it's dark night skies, which make the perfect backdrop for light pai...

Hike Panum Crater Trail

If you are visiting Mono Lake, the Panum Crater Trail is not to be missed! From 395, take highway 120 east for about 2.5 miles. Look for a small wooden sign for Panum Crater and turn left onto a dirt road. If you reach the turn-off to the South Tufa Area, you have gone too far! After about a mile on the dirt road, you will reach the a dead end, and the parking area underneath the crater. The tr...

Mono Lake Vista Point

Mono Lake Boardwalk

Explore the Black Point Fissures

This area is such a great way to spend time exploring. It's a lot different than what it's surrounded by, making it a great change of pace in the Eastern Sierra.Just East of Lee Vining, California is Black Point, which sits on the North side of the massive Mono Lake...Which used to be an underwater Volcano. A quick couple miles down a dirt road leads you to a dead end parking lot where you can ...

Camp at Mono Lake

Many people visit Mono Lake for a quick photo opportunity of the South Tufa. When I discovered camping was allowed on the North side of the lake, I knew I had to experience it and share.You head East on Cemetery Rd. just North of Lee Vining. This road turns into a dirt road, which will require you to stay right on a fork. You will see a sign directing you to Black Point, which will require a ri...

Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Mono Lake's South Tufa Loop Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Explore the Mono Lake Tufas under the Milky Way

Hike Panum Crater Trail

Mono Lake Vista Point

Mono Lake Boardwalk

Explore the Black Point Fissures

Camp at Mono Lake

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps