Magnificent Mono Lake – Top Reasons to Visit...Now!
This past week Nate and I drove up to Yosemite to celebrate his birthday with some much needed time away together in nature. On our way, we stopped at one of our absolute favorite lakes to photograph, Mono Lake Tufa State National Reserve.
Mono Lake is a nature photographer’s dream…from towering tufas to tiny birds, this natural wonder is the perfect place to capture stunning images. The lake is situated just north of Mammoth Lakes and east of Yosemite (Tioga Pass entrance), so it’s an easy add-on to either of these destinations.
The water here is nearly 3 times as salty as the ocean. Fresh water streams flow into the lake bringing salt and minerals, but there are no outflowing channels…and as the water evaporates, it leaves extremely high levels of salt and minerals.
Mono Lake is believed to be nearly 1 million years old, making it one of the oldest lakes in North America. It has a fascinating ecosystem that provides a crucial habitat for over 2 million migratory birds every year who feed on the alkali flies and brine shrimp, which thrive in the salty water.
A series of volcanic eruptions over 300 years ago formed the largest island in the lake (Paoha Island), which measures in at just over 2 miles long and can be easily reached by boat or canoe. You can actually go for a swim (or rather float in the salt water), and there are guided canoe tours of the lake in the summer months. Just don’t bring your fishing pole, because you won’t find any fish in this highly saline water.
The jagged tufas that jet out of the ground here are otherworldly. Formed of limestone when calcium meets carbonate, some of these tufas tower over 30 feet high and are 13,000 years old. While beautiful to look at, they are fragile and protected, so disturbing or climbing on them is strictly prohibited.
Now is a wonderful time to visit because the water level is currently rising here after a record low in the 1980’s. In fact, the water is currently 6 ft higher than the last time I visited in the fall of 2016, and it could rise another 10 feet in the coming year, covering up many of the beautiful tufa formations.
I love strolling down the beautiful wooden boardwalk which leads to the waters edge. The cost of parking here starts at $3 per car, but your visit is free with a valid America the Beautiful pass. (The US National Parks Annual Pass). • Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful and make sure to add Mono Lake to your list of stops when traveling the 395 in California…and when you do, be sure to comment below with your favorite Mono Lake memories!