Category: Visit

Tufa against hazy skies, small waves roll into the shore.

Inyo National Forest temporarily closed

The Inyo National Forest, including sites at Mono Lake, is closed as of 11:59pm on Tuesday, August 31, and will remain closed through at least September 17, 2021. The closure includes all campgrounds, all day-use sites, all trails, all roads,…

Artwork of a forest burning.

Increased fire restrictions in Mono County

Due to the serious fire activity throughout California, the Inyo National Forest has issued Stage II fire restrictions. Other Mono County fire restrictions are also in effect. This means: No campfires, wood fires, or charcoal fires Campfires and charcoal grills…

People walking down a path toward tufa, Mono Lake and the mountains are in the distance, the sky is cloudy.

Enjoy a self-guided tour of South Tufa from anywhere

If you’re looking to get the most our of your trip to Mono Lake, a visit to South Tufa is a must. The otherworldly tufa towers combined with the stunning high desert landscape and abundant birdlife makes this area truly…

A tent setup in a campsite, a white SUV is parked nearby, a lake and mountain are in the background.

Camp like a pro in the Eastern Sierra

Stay in an established campground Staying in an established campground is the best way to protect our public lands from fires, trash, and trampling. With more than 160 serviced campgrounds in Inyo and Mono counties, this is your best bet…

Wildfire flames and plume of smoke along the shore of Mono Lake in the distance with a truck driving down a contry road towards the fire.

Fire restrictions in effect on public land

On Monday, May 24, the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bishop Field Office announced Stage 1 fire restrictions effective on all federal lands under their jurisdiction due to very high fire danger, drought conditions, extremely dry vegetation,…

A group of several birders stand in the shrubbery along mono shore. Some look through binoculars towards the water.

Announcing the 2021 Field Seminars

The Mono Lake Committee’s 2021 Field Seminars are now online! This year we’re offering a slimmed-down seminar season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Join us to get back into the field and learn about these natural history topics: Mono…

A woman on the shore of Mono Lake looking through a spotting scope out over the water with tufa towers in the background.

Registration open for spring virtual seminars

Are you interested in learning more about birds? Join me, the Mono Lake Committee’s Lead Naturalist Guide, on one or more virtual seminars that explore the important basic topics of ornithology, the study of birds, in our new virtual seminar…

Five people standing in a grassy field adjacent to Mono Lake looking out toward the lake with binoculars at birds flying in the sky and the Sierra Nevada in the distance.

Coming this spring: Virtual seminars

The Field Seminar team is excited to present a selection of virtual seminars coming up this spring. Join me, the Mono Lake Committee’s Lead Naturalist Guide, to learn about the essentials of ornithology (the study of birds) from the comfort of your own…

Tufa towers stand tall in turquoise Mono Lake water, with snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains behind it.

South Tufa area at Mono Lake has reopened

After a months-long closure, the South Tufa area and Navy Beach have reopened. These two popular visitor locations along Mono Lake’s south shore were closed in mid-August when the Beach Fire was ignited by lightning. The fire was contained after approximately ten days, and…