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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