Lake View Lodge

The Eastern Gateway to Yosemite

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Day Trips

 

1 Hour

  • Visit the South Tufa Scenic Area and explore the 1-mile self-guided interpretive trail.
  • Visit Panum Crater. The most recent eruption of the Mono Craters, last erupting 600-650 years ago. A short trail leads into the Pumice and Obsidian Dome Plug, or walk/hike the 1-1/2 mile circular Pumice Ring and enjoy great views.
  • Visit the Mono Lake County Park and enjoy a picnic lunch, numerous birds, and a short boardwalk down to the lakeshore.
  • Visit the Mono Lake Committee and enjoy a slide show and browse their gift shop.
  • Enjoy the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center. Enjoy a 20-minute video that offers an excellent overview of the Mono Basin’s ecology, geology, and cultural history, then stroll through the free interpretive exhibit hall.

2-3 Hours

  • Enjoy the Mono Basin Visitor Center. Watch a 20-minute video on the Mono Basin that explores the area’s ecology, geology, and cultural history. Take a stroll through their free interpretive exhibit hall. Walk the Visitor Center gardens. Take a short 15-minute drive out to the South Tufa Scenic Area and enjoy a 1-mile self-guided interpretive trail.
  • Drive 395 South to the June Lake Loop and park at the Parker Lake Trailhead and take an easy 1.8-mile hike up to Parker Lake.
  • Enjoy a mountain bike ride along the Lee Vining Creek. An access road can be found about 4 miles up HWY 120 (the Tioga Pass) on the left, just past the Inyo National Forest sign.
  • Take a drive to Benton on HWY 120 east through the world’s largest contiguous stand of pure Jeffery Pines.

5-6 Hours

  • Enjoy the Mono Lake Visitor Center. Watch a 20-minute video on the Mono Basin that explores the area’s ecology, geology, and cultural history. Take a stroll through their free interpretive exhibit hall. Walk the Visitor Center gardens. Take a short 15-minute drive out to the South Tufa Scenic Area and enjoy a 1-mile self-guided interpretive trail. From there, get back on HWY 395 south and head to Mammoth (about 25 minutes), Exit onto HWY 203, and go up to the Devils Postpile Monument or Agnew Meadows.
  • After enjoying the Visitor Center and South Tufa Area, take a drive south on HWY 395 to the Old Mammoth Road (about 25 minutes). Pull off and hike many of the easy to moderate 1/2 – 2 mile trails along Old Mammoth Road around some of the craters (don’t worry if you miss Old Mammoth Road. Continue South on HWY 395 and take the Mammoth Exit to HWY 203 thru the town of Mammoth Lakes, until you see Old Mammoth Road.).
  • Take a 45-minute drive north and visit the historic ghost town of Bodie.
  • Take a hike on Black point — but only if you have hiking shoes.
  • Stop in at the local sporting goods store and pick up a fishing permit and try your luck at one of the many streams and lakes from Bridgeport to Mammoth.
  • Go out kayaking on Mono Lake. We recommend morning ventures, as afternoon winds often pick up and can become dangerous, even for the most experienced kayaker. Prior arrangements (1-2 days notice) can be made with Caldera Kayaks of Mammoth. They will meet you at Mono Lake’s Navy Beach with a kayak and equipment.
  • Take a mountain bike adventure. Inquire about many of the popular trails.
  • Take a drive up Tioga Pass and enjoy an afternoon at Tioga or Ellery Lake. Don’t forget to stop for pictures on the way back down. (Note: It is 12 miles from the junction of HWY 395 and HWY 120 to the Yosemite National Park fee entrance area.)

All Day Adventures

  • Venture into Yosemite National Park. Free Shuttle service on the valley floor from the Visitor Center to Yosemite Village. Or inquire about parking your car at the bottom of Tioga Pass and taking YARTS (round trip) into the park. Once there, first, see the new 30-35 minute film at the Visitor Center in their new theater and inquire about the day’s activities. Take the 2-hour valley floor tour ($20.00 each).
  • After enjoying the Visitor Center and the South Tufa Area, continue south for about 2 hours and go to the Bristle Cone Pine Forest, the oldest living forest in the world and home to the oldest living tree in the world. Your South Tufa entrance fee is also good for admittance into the Bristle Cone Pine Forest.