Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2025

2025 Scenic 395 45 L OCATED AT THE N ORTH E ND OF T OWN S HADED S ITES • T ENT & G ROUP C AMPING S HOWERS • L AUNDROMAT • D UMP S TATION P LAYGROUND • F ISHING T ACKLE • RV S TORAGE 760-647-6401 P.O. Box 178 • Lee Vining, CA • 93541 monovista@yahoo.com monovistarvpark.net Lee Vining/Mono Lake Previously submitted to Scenic 395 Having an adventure in a natural and prehistoric setting, un- like anywhere in the world, is right here for you in Mono Lake. Mono Lake has a beauty all its own, a captivating peace. With the Sierra Mountains to the west, Mono Lake rests at an altitude of nearly 6,400 feet. Paddle into the salty paradise, as having a kayak journey here is like nothing you have experienced before. Mono Lake has about double the salt content as the ocean. Mono Lake has such a high salt content, that brine shrimp thrive in this lake, where fish do not. Migratory birds thrive on the brine shrimp, making this ecological gem vital to many spe- cies of wildlife. Folks from all over the world come to visit this ecological wonder. The granddaddy of lakes in California, Mono Lake is said to be over 750,000 years old. Our beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains feed Mono with snowmelt, and there is no river outlet from the lake. Mono Lake covers over 60 square miles and is less than 15 miles wide. Taking your kayak out on Mono Lake is easy to do. There are also some kayak tours that may be available locally to Mono Lake. A favorite for kayak visits is up and close to the “tufa formations” that grow from beneath the waters of Mono Lake. Freshwater springs seep into the very alkaline lake waters. The reaction is the formation of these tufa towers, quite fascinat- ing to see. FromApril 1 to September 1, stay clear of the island shores. Seagulls will be nesting there. You also have to be 200 yards away from lake surrounded tufa towers, as these are Os- prey nesting areas. We suggest bringing your kayak to Navy Beach, at the south shore. Parking is really close to the lake there and getting your kayak in the water there is very user friendly. It really depends on what you want to see. We want to share some Mono Lake safety items with you as well. The wind can come up in minutes, especially in the afternoon. Sometimes it is just a breeze, yet hurricane force winds have happened here as well. Even a light breeze can make kayak pad- dling difficult here. The water can go from smooth to choppy. Stay close to shore and wear flotation gear. You knowwhat? Have a leash attachment to your kayak. Remember the size of this lake, be safe. Most types of watercraft are allowed on Mono Lake, but We have only seen light kayak and paddle boat activity on the lake over the years. The salinity of the water and alkaline conditions may be why folks with powered boats prefer other venues. Treat yourself and take a very cool tour with a knowledge- able naturalist guide. On weekends during the summer, you can board a canoe and enjoy the company of others with the same interest. The Mono Lake Committee offers this, and at this printing can be reached by going online at MonoLake.Org or calling 760-647-6595. Kayak rentals and tours very close to the lake at Caldera Kayaks and Mono Basin Kayak Rentals. Mono Lake offers a unique opportunity for paddling that will have you returning time and again. There is no need to venture very far away from shore. Just paddle out a ways, relax, admire, and respect this that God has created. Sometimes, visiting a place such as Mono Lake helps us to unwind more, stress less, and understand that relaxation comes fromwithin. Allow your spirit to breathe and enjoy the beauty. Take time to relax, enjoy the majesty of Mono Lake, and Let’s Get Rollin’! Roll Into a Salty Paradise: Mono Lake Canoeing at Mono Lake allows one to view the lake and tufa in a whole new way. Dakota Snider/Mono County Tourism Rollin’ with Russ and Lori By Russ and Lori Tice H aving an adventure in a natural and prehistoric setting, un- like anywhere in the world, is right here for you in Mono Lake. Mono L ke has a beauty all its own, ca tivating peac . With the Sierr Mountains o the west, Mono Lake rests at an altitude of n ar- ly 6,400 feet. Paddle into the salty paradise, as having a kayak jour- ney here is like nothing you have experienced before. Mono Lake has about double the salt content as the ocean. Mono Lake has such a high salt content, that brine shrimp thrive in this lake, where fish do not. Migratory birds thrive on the brine shrimp, making this ecological gem vital to many species of wildlife. Folks fr m all over the world come to visit this ecological wonder. Th granddaddy of lakes in California, Mono Lake is said to be over 750,000 yea s old. Our beautiful Sierra Nevada Moun ains feed Mon with snow melt, and there is no river utlet from the lake. Mono Lake covers over 60 square miles and is less than 15 miles wide. Taking your kayak out on Mono Lake is easy to do. There are also some kayak tours that may be available locally to Mono Lake. A fa- vorite for kayak visits is up and close to the “tufa formations” that grow from beneath th waters of Mono Lake. Freshwater prings seep into the very alkaline lake waters. The reaction is the formation of these tufa t wers, quite fasci ating to see. From April 1 to Sept mber 1, stay clear of the island shores. Seagulls will be nesting there. You also have to be 200 yards away from lake surrounded tufa towers, as these are Osprey nesting areas. Russ and Lori suggest bringing your kayak to Navy Beach, at the south shore. Parking is really close to the lake there and getting your kayak in the water there is very user friendly. It really depends on wha you want to see. We want to share some Mono Lake safety items with you as we l. The wind can come up in mi utes, especially in the afternoon. Sometimes it is just a breeze, yet hurricane force winds have hap- pened here as well. Even a light breeze can make kayak paddling dif- ficult here. The water can go from smooth to choppy. Stay close to shore and wear flotation gear. You know what? Have a leash attach- ment to your kayak. Remember the size of this lake, be safe. Most types of watercraft are allowed on Mono Lake, but Russ and Lori hav only seen light kayak and paddle boat activity on the lake over the years. The salinity of the water and alkaline conditions may be why folks with powered boats prefer other venues. Treat yourself and take a very cool tour with a knowledgeable natu- ralist guide. On weekends during the summer, you can board a canoe and enjoy the company of others with the same interest. The Mono Lake Committee offers this, and at this printing can be reached by go- ing online at MonoLa e.Org or calling 760-647-6595. Kayak rentals and tours very clos to the lake a Caldera Kayaks and Mono Basi K ak Rentals. Mono Lake offers a unique opportunity for paddling that will have you returning time and again. There is no need to venture very far away from shore. Just paddle out a ways, relax, admire, and respect this that God has created. Sometimes, visiting a place such as Mono Lake helps us to unwind more, stress less, and understand that relaxation comes from within. Allow your spirit to breath nd joy the bea ty. Take time to relax, enjoy he majesty of Mono Lake, and Let’s Get Rollin’! To contact Russ and Lori, email them at Russ.L ri.Rolli @ mail.com. 39 2021-2022 Scenic 395 L OCATED AT THE N ORTH E ND OF T OWN S HADED S ITES • T ENT & G ROUP C AMPING S HOWERS • L AUNDROMAT • D UMP S TATION P LAYGROUND • F ISHING T ACKL • RV S TORAGE 760-647-6401 P.O. Box 178 • Lee Vining, CA • 93541 monovista@yahoo.com monovistarvpark.net Roll Into a Salty Paradise: Mono Lake DAKOTA SNIDER/MONO COUNTY TOURISM Canoeing at Mono Lake allows one to view the lake and tufa in a whole new way.