Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

What to do at Mono Lake?

Coming to Mono Lake for vacation? Bringing friends to Mono Lake for a visit? Looking for something fun to do while you’re here? Look no further: you can plan your whole Mono Lake visit right here.

Mono Lake Committee intern Claire Skinner explains Mono Lake's history to a group of visitors at South Tufa. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Mono Lake Committee intern Claire Skinner explains Mono Lake's history to a group of visitors at South Tufa. Photo by Elin Ljung.

Together, the Mono Lake Committee, US Forest Service, and Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve provide 50 interpretive programs each week! That’s enough for all your friends and family to get out and about and experience the splendor of the Mono Basin many different ways.

For newcomers to the Mono Basin, start the visit with a South Tufa walk, led by naturalists every day at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 6:00 pm. Curious about those volcanoes? Try a Panum Crater walk. Love birdwatching? Don’t miss the popular Bird Walks at 8am on Friday and Sunday mornings. For the night owls in your family, there’s the Stars Over Mono program every Tuesday. And for those of you who would like to get up to the high country, you can learn about Bennettville’s mining history, explore scenic Lundy Canyon, or trek up the side of Mt. Dana for some true alpine scenery.

Best of all, you’ll get insider information about the Mono Basin’s history, geology, ecology, and complicated political story from an expert. Interpretive programs bring the area to life—it’s like having a walking, talking field guide along with you! Take a look at all the programs you can choose from, and start exploring the Mono Basin today. We’ll see you out there!

A group embarks upon a 6:00 pm South Tufa tour. Photo by Elin Ljung.
A group embarks upon a 6:00 pm South Tufa tour. Photo by Elin Ljung.