Trip Planner: USA / California / Lee Vining / Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, Lee Vining

4.6

#2 of 9 in Things to do in Lee Vining

Volcano · Hidden Gem · Island

Visit the intriguing Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, around a lake which has no outlet. Just outside Yosemite National Park, the lake collects salt, supporting an unusual ecosystem. Brine shrimp thrive in the waters, and they attract migratory birds. Admire the otherworldly tufa towers, which are limestone formations that look like fairy castles rising from the clear water. A conservation committee that formed to protect the area offers seminars, traditional tours, and guided canoeing and bird watching jaunts. Visit the committee's website to check the tour calendar and book a spot. Our Lee Vining journey planner makes visiting Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and other Lee Vining attractions simple, and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.

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Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve reviews

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352 reviews

Google

4.5

By soumeng78

Visiting Mono Lake was not in my agenda as I was told that it is closed either due to California forest fire or COVID-19 restrictions. I was also not aware of its pristine beauty. I was exploring the.... more »
By WeAlwaysWAnder

Wow - such an amazing experience to kayak among the Tufa. The water here is more alkaline and salty than the ocean and has such a cool color as a result. Like nothing I ever have seen or... more »

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Google

By David Reyes

The lake and picnic area was beautiful. The little lake flys on shore were also pretty cool. There were thousands and thousands of them and they kept to themselves. The foreigner's weren't very friendly. But I don't blame them considering our current social climate. The locals were nice. We had the pleasure of picking up garbage and placing it in the receptacles while we were there. 👍👍

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By Jamie Krupka

Stop on the way to Lake Tahoe. Was worth the time to get out and stretch my legs. Pretty unique ecosystem with sagebrush habitat and saline waters.

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