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A short walk into another planet, to the salt lake between the tufa towers.


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Map Key

0.7

Miles

1.1

KM

Loop

6,406' 1,952 m

High

6,386' 1,946 m

Low

19' 6 m

Up

21' 6 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

2%

Max Grade (1°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Views

Family Friendly The signs by the track offer a nice opportunity to explain basic science to kids who can touch or taste the salt water, watch the birds struggling to swim and walk between the alkali flies.

Description

This is a very short trail and time flies by walking around the uncanny landscape of the tufa towers and taking pictures of the calm mirror salt lake. In autumn after the first snow, the snowy sierra peaks in the background offer an amazing view.

Please don't touch the tufa and by no means climb on them, they are very fragile, an Instagram moment is not worth ruining hundreds of years of nature's work, especially as this natural wonder will be ruined for everyone who follows after.

There's an admission fee of $3 for everyone in your party older than 15, and the Yosemite pass doesn't work here. There won't be anyone at the entrance booth to take your money though, you're supposed to deposit it in one of the pink payment envelopes found there and then tear off the proof-of-payment stub and hang it from your car's rear-view mirror.
National park passes (officially known as "interagency passes") and senior passes are accepted - leave the pass on your dashboard before you start the hike to avoid getting ticketed.

Though short, you'll leave this route with a feeling of wonder, so take your time to enjoy the sights and to take plenty of photos.

Flora & Fauna

Alkali flies (thousands), brine shrimp, ducks

Contacts

Shared By:

David Montero with improvements by Tilman Giese

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 8 votes

#1

in Mono Lake

#6847

Overall
  4.6 from 8 votes
5 Star
75%
4 Star
13%
3 Star
13%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Mono Lake

#518

in California

#6,847

Overall
2 Views Last Month
622 Since Nov 27, 2016
Easy Easy

100%
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Photos

Tufa reflected on the lake.
Nov 27, 2016 near Mammoth…, CA
A rocky "skyline" sticking out of the water.
Oct 21, 2019 near Mammoth…, CA
Mirror Lake.
Nov 27, 2016 near Mammoth…, CA
Uncanny tufa towers.
Nov 27, 2016 near Mammoth…, CA
A salt covered rock "finger" on the southern shore of Mono Lake
Oct 21, 2019 near Mammoth…, CA
Snow on the sierra.
Nov 27, 2016 near Mammoth…, CA

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