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.

Mono Basin roads and services begin to open for the season

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.

After a winter with above-average snowfall, warm spring temperatures have finally arrived! With Easter this weekend and fishing season opening next weekend (Saturday, April 27), roads and services are beginning to open up for the summer season.

Snow removal happening on Highway 120 West (Tioga Pass) on April 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Tuolumne Winter Rangers.

Visitor centers

The Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center opened for the season yesterday. Open Thursday through Monday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, with limited services. The Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore is open every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Restaurants

Mono Cone, the Whoa Nellie Deli (in the Mobil/Tioga Gas Mart), and Silver Lake Cafe open on Friday, April 26. Epic Cafe opens on Friday, May 10. No estimated opening dates for the Latte Da Coffee Cafe or Bodie Mike’s BBQ. Open restaurants: Nicely’s Restaurant is open Thursday through Monday, and the Mono Inn is open Friday through Sunday for dinner. The Mono Market is open seven days a week with to-go meal options and groceries.

Roads

Open roads: Highway 120 East opened all the way to Benton last week, and Highway 158 (the June Lake Loop) opened two days ago. The Lundy Canyon Road is open to the resort.

Closed roads: Highway 120 West (Tioga Pass*), Saddlebag Road, Lundy Lake Road beyond the resort, Highway 270 to Bodie State Historic Park. There are no estimated opening dates for these roads.

*When will Tioga Pass open? There’s no official opening date yet, but after a winter like we had this year, it will probably open sometime in June. The road is being plowed and you can find plowing updates and historical opening dates here.

Campgrounds

Oh Ridge Campground opens partially today (snow still covers some sites). Campgrounds estimated to open on Friday, April 26: Lundy Canyon, June Lake, Gull Lake, and Aerie Crag.

Closed campgrounds (no estimated opening dates): Lower Lee Vining, Moraine, Aspen Grove, Big Bend, Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake, Junction, Sawmill Walk-in, Saddlebag Lake, and Saddlebag Lake Group Camp.

If you have questions about opening dates for any of these services or roads, don’t hesitate to call the Mono Lake Committee, which also serves as the Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce: (760) 647-6595.