Overview

Located along the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and perhaps better known for the tufa towers and western water wars, Mono Lake provides salty habitat for billions of alkali flies and brine shrimp. The flies and shrimp, in turn, are food for many thousands of grebes, ducks, gulls, shorebirds, and other species, some 300 species and millions of individuals in all.

Each spring, about 50,000 California Gulls breed on the big island in the lake, and about 400 endangered Snowy Plovers nest on the alkali flats on the northeast shore. In mid-summer, thousands of Wilson's Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes stop during the migration south to fatten up; and in the fall, nearly two million Eared Grebes join the food feast. Ducks, geese, and Tundra Swans also stop over during migration.

Link to Mono Lake Area Map.

Location

Mono Lake is located east of Highway 395, just east of Lee Vining, California. The South Tufa Area is located about 11 miles southeast of Lee Vining.

From Highway 395 south of Lee Vining, watch for signs to Highway 120 East and the town of Benton. Turn east onto Highway 120 and drive east at 60 mph crossing open desert heading towards mountains in the distance. As Highway 120 approaches the mountains, the highway goes through curves that seem too sharp for 60 mph, but at least they are well signed.

After about 4.7 miles on Highway 120, watch for signs for "Test Station Road" and "Mono Lake South Tufa," and turn left onto the paved Test Station Road to head north towards Mono Lake.

In about 100 yards, Test Station Road forks. Stay left following signs towards the tufa area. The pavement quickly ends. Continue about 1 mile on graded gravel, staying straight on the main road when it forks, to the end of the road at the South Tufa Trail parking area.