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.

Summer visitor programs at Mono Lake

This post was written by Adam Dalton, 2014 & 2016 Mono Lake Intern.

Summer is officially here! With the passing of the summer solstice, many of the Mono Basin’s unique interpretive programs have begun. Whether you are a birder, astronomer, geologist, or traveling with a family, there is a Mono Basin interpretive program for you.

Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning for canoe tours on Mono Lake. Photo by Sandra Noll.
Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning for canoe tours on Mono Lake. Photo by Sandra Noll.

South Tufa tours: 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 6:00pm every day
Discover the mystery of Mono Lake’s strange water, unique wildlife, and dynamic geology. Tours begin from the South Tufa kiosk and last 1 to 1.5 hours. Free!

Bird walks: 8:00am on Fridays and Sundays
Join a naturalist on an easy stroll through Mono Lake County Park to discover the birds of the Mono Basin. If possible, please bring binoculars for this 1.5–2 hour walk. Free!

Canoe tours: 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am on Saturdays and Sundays
Experience bubbling springs, alkali flies, brine shrimp, underwater tufa towers, migrating birds, and crystalline waters, all from the unique vantage point of a canoe. These hour-long tours begin at the south shore. Reservations are required, call (760) 647-6595 or sign up online. $

Guided Trips: various times, various days
Join a Mono Lake Committee staff naturalist for day-long and half-day trips in the Mono Basin and beyond. Trips include Twilight Birding, Wildflower Waltz, Butterflies & Dragonflies, Mining the Past, and Full Moon Canoe Tours. Reservations are required, call (760) 647-6595 or sign up online. $

Field Seminars: every weekend
Get an in-depth look at the Mono Basin with these two- and three-day workshops with topics including birding, kayaking, photography, basketry, watercolor painting, wildflowers, woodpeckers, arborglyphs, aqueduct operations, and more. Reservations are required, call (760) 647-6595 or sign up online. $

Panum Crater walks: 10:00am on Saturdays and Sundays
In terms of time, the Mono Basin is an area of extremes; the youngest North American mountain range overlooks a prehistoric lake. Discover the geologic history of the Mono Basin with a walk around Panum Crater. These 1.5-hour walks meet at the Panum Crater parking lot off of Highway 120 East. Free!

Stars Over Mono Lake: 8:30pm June 27–July 25; 8:00pm August 1–29; 7:30pm September 5–19
Explore the beauties and mysteries of the celestial realm as day fades to night under the starlit skies along the ancient shores of Mono Lake. Be sure to bring something to sit on and dress warmly. These 1.5-hour talks take place at South Tufa. Free!

Lundy Canyon walks: 10:00am on Fridays
Discover the cultural and natural history of beautiful Lundy Canyon, once a major mining location in the Mono Basin. These 2-hour walks meet at the historical marker at Lundy Resort in Lundy Canyon. Free!

Patio talks: 11:15am and 2:15pm every day
Step outside on the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center patio and learn all about the Mono Basin against the backdrop of Mono Lake. These talks are approximately 20 minutes long. Free!

We hope you’ll be able to join us in the Mono Basin this summer!

2 Comments

  1. I will be back October 19-23, and I would like to know if any of these events listed will take place this late in the season (canoe tours, bird walks, Panum Crater walks). I can’t wait to return!