Mono Lake Level 1 (Day Trip from June Lake)

Mono Lake is a majestic body of water covering about 65 square miles. It is an ancient lake, over 1 million years old -- one of the oldest lakes in North America. It has no outlet. Throughout its long existence, salts and minerals have washed into the lake from Eastern Sierra streams. Freshwater evaporating from the lake each year has left the salts and minerals behind so that the lake is now about 2 1/2 times as salty as the ocean and very alkaline. 1 – 2 million birds feed and rest at Mono Lake during annual migrations. Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers,". In addition the lake itself, wetlands and other sensitive habitat are protected.

Where To Meet: Meet at 9am. We will carpool from the Gull Lake Marina parking lot (47 Granite Ave, June Lake) to carpool. The drive to Mono Lake is approximately 15 miles.

Hike Stats
Distance: 1-2 miles
Elevation Gain: minimal, under 50 feet
Hike Time: approximately 2 hours total walking time
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Condition: lake shore and boardwalks, mostly dry but if you want to get close to the water you may encounter mud
Hike Type: loop and out and back
General Rating: Level (1, EASY) Click the hike RATING TABLE for more info about hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Bring: $3 per person park entry fee. Water/beverage, lunch/snacks. Wear sturdy shoes, hat, sunglasses. Clothing layers according to weather.

About the hike: We will spend time at the visitor center to become acquainted with the lake's history and environmental importance. We will drive to at least two shoreline areas and leisurely explore by foot along the shore and tufa.

Reminder:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***