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.

Mudslides close the June Lake Loop (Highway 158)

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.

On July 31 Caltrans closed Highway 158, the June Lake Loop, due to mudslides that occurred earlier that day. The closure remains in place and there is no estimated opening date.

On July 31, a short, powerful rainstorm brought mudslides and debris down on Highway 158, closing the June Lake Loop. Photo courtesy of Caltrans District 9.

The road is closed between Silver Lake and Grant Lake Reservoir, from roughly the Frontier Pack Station to the Aerie Crag parking area. Through passage around the loop is not available, but visitors can access Grant Lake Marina and campground, and the Parker Lake trailhead, from the NORTH entrance to Highway 158, and can access the town of June Lake and Silver Lake Resort from the SOUTH entrance to Highway 158.

Channels carved by the more than four inches of rain that fell on July 31, bringing mud and debris down onto Highway 158. Photo courtesy of Caltrans District 9.

According to Caltrans, the mudslides were caused by an “exceptional storm,” during which more than four inches of rain fell in the area above the road during a short period of time.

Mud across Highway 158 in a view toward Silver Lake. Photo courtesy of Caltrans District 9.