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.

Early bird special for Mono Lake canoe tours

This post was written by Alison Kaplan, 2018 & 2019 Canoe Coordinator.

Each weekend the Mono Lake Interns wake with the sun and meet at 6:30am, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready for a day of paddling on Mono Lake. When they arrive at Navy Beach, they are almost always greeted by a calm, glassy lake and an empty parking lot.

Early morning is one of the best times to enjoy Mono Lake, especially from a canoe. Photo by Erv Nichols.

Mono Lake in the early morning is a magical place: the Sierra Crest is lit up by first light and its image is reflected on the lake’s still surface. The air is crisp and serenely silent. You won’t hear much at this early hour other than the calls of Osprey and gulls, the swooping dives of Violet-green Swallows, and the occasional grunt of a Mono Lake Intern as they lug the heavy, metal canoes down to the shore in preparation for the day’s tours.

Save 20% on any 8:00am canoe tour this summer using the promo code “EARLYBIRD” through August 5. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

If that’s not enough to motivate you to wake up early, we’re offering a 20% discount on all 8:00am canoe tours! Book by August 5 to take advantage of this great deal. Enter the promo code “EARLYBIRD” to gain access to these discounted tickets, which are just $28 for adults and $16 for kids (ages 12 and under). We look forward to seeing you bright and early on our upcoming tours!

While it may be tempting to spend these early hours in bed or having a latte at a local coffee shop, nothing beats experiencing the unique beauty of Mono Lake first thing in the morning. Photo by Bartshe Miller.