Mono Lake is an amazing place to paddle. One can’t help but appreciate the lake’s harsh beauty while paddling upon its salty waters. The lake has a mystical quality; utterly barren, with a silent, prevailing stillness, with an exceptional beauty of its own. Surrounded by the high desert, the lake’s water breathes life into the desolate landscape of the Great Basin.

Mono Lake may be one of the most memorable lakes you will ever paddle in the entire state of California. It lies on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where high alpine peaks descend rapidly in elevation to the Mono Basin.The Mono Basin is accessed via Highway 395, which is one of the most scenic highways in Northern California.

The panoramas between the black islands and bluffs are spectacular. Photographers come from all over, seeking to capture the interplay of light, water, and sky on the mountains and desert. The Mono Basin is a large, relatively flat expanse surrounded by mountains. Due to its proximity to the mountains, Mono Lake has a reputation for and extremes of heat and savage afternoon winds that can really whip up the lake’s water surface. The South Tufa area on the lake’s south shore is the most scenic area to explore. The tufa towers continue for about a mile along the shore, and it is well worth the longer paddle. The put-in area for exploring the South Tufa is at Navy Beach.

Other recreational activities you can enjoy at Mono Lake include hiking, photography, bird watching, swimming, boating, and cross-country skiing. Naturalists lead free tufa walks at the South Tufa Area three times daily from late June through Labor Day, and bird watching walks are offered at the Mono Lake County Park and State Natural Reserve boardwalk from mid-May through Labor Day. Canoe and kayak rentals are available during the summer months.

Map of Mono Lake

  
 
 
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