and pull out the camera for the
alpine lake and peak vistas of
the June Lake Loop.
8 June Lake Loop
Under the shadow of
massive Carson Peak
(10,909ft), the stunning
14-mile June Lake Loop
(Hwy 158) meanders
through a picture-perfect
horseshoe canyon, past
the relaxed resort town
of June Lake and four
sparkling, fish-rich lakes:
Grant, Silver, Gull and
June. It’s especially scenic
in fall when the basin
is ablaze with golden
aspens, and hardy ice
climbers scale its frozen
waterfalls in winter.
June Lake is backed
by the Ansel Adams
Wilderness, which runs
into Yosemite National
Park. From Silver Lake,
Gem and Agnew Lakes
make spectacular day
hikes, and boat rentals
and horseback rides are
available.
The Drive » Rejoin the
highway, where the rounded
Mono Craters dot the dry and
scrubby eastern landscape and
the Mono Lake Basin unfolds
into view.
9 Mono Lake
North America’s second-
oldest lake is a quiet and
mysterious expanse of
deep blue water, whose
glassy surface reflects
jagged Sierra peaks,
young volcanic cones and
the unearthly tufa (too-
fah) towers that make
the lake so distinctive.
Protruding from the
water like drip sand
castles, tufas form when
calcium bubbles up from
subterranean springs and
combines with carbonate
in the alkaline lake
waters.
The salinity and
alkaline levels are
unfortunately too high
for a pleasant swim.
Instead, paddle a kayak
or canoe around the
weathered towers of
tufa, drink in wide-
open views of the Mono
Craters volcanic field,
and discreetly spy on the
ospreys and water birds
that live in this unique
habitat.
For area information,
the Mono Basin Scenic
Area Visitors Center
(%760-647-3044; http://www.
fs.usda.gov/inyo; Hwy 395,
h8am-5pm mid-Apr–Nov), a
half a mile north of Lee
Vining, has interpretive
displays, a bookstore anda 20-minute movie about
Mono Lake.54 p225
The Drive » Ten miles north
of Lee Vining, Hwy 395 arrives
at its highest point, Conway
Summit (8148ft). Pull off at the
vista point for awe-inspiring
panoramas of Mono Lake,
backed by the Mono Craters and
June and Mammoth Mountains.
Continue approximately 8 miles
north, and go 13 miles east on
high desert Hwy 270; the last 3
miles are unpaved.a Bodie State
Historic Park
For a time warp back to
the Gold Rush era, swing
by Bodie (%760-647-6445;
http://www.parks.ca.gov/bodie;
Hwy 270; adult/child $7/5;
h9am-6pm Jun-Aug, to 3pm
Sep-May), one of the West’s
most authentic and best-
preserved ghost towns.
Gold was discovered here
in 1859, and the place
grew from a bare-bones
mining camp to a lawless
boomtown of 10,000.TRIP HIGHLIGHT
TRIP HIGHLIGHTHOT SPRINGS
Nestled between the White Mountains and the
Sierra Nevada near Mammoth is a tantalizing slew
of natural pools with snow-capped panoramic
views. When the high-altitude summer nights turn
chilly and the coyotes cry, you’ll never want to towel
off. About 9 miles south of town, Benton Crossing
Rd juts east off Hwy 395, accessing a delicious
bounty of hot springs. For detailed directions and
maps, pick up Matt Bischoff’s excellent Touring
California and Nevada Hot Springs or see http://www.
mammothweb.com/recreation/hottubbing.cfm for
directions to a few.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.20
.EASTERN SIERRA SCENIC BYWAY