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Natural Monuments

Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center

Natural Monuments

Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center

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Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center

Name: Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center
Rating: 2

Recommended by 7 hikers

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Location: Lee Vining, Mono County, California, United States

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Best Hikes to Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center

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1. Mono Lake Trail Loop — Mono Lake Tufa Natural Reserve

4.76km

01:20

100m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

5.0

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2. Lee Vining Creek Delta Trail — Lee Vining

5.02km

01:24

90m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

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3. Lee Vining Creek Trail and town loop — Lee Vining

3.93km

01:04

50m

60m

Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

Tips

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

April 14, 2017

Central visitor center serving the entire Mono Basin area. Usually closed in winter (Dec-Mar) with great info about Mono Lake, permits, and the trails in the adjacent Sierra Valleys between Tahoe, Yosemite, and Bishop.
Displays explain the unique biology of the salty, alcaline water, the purchase of all water rights of the valley by the water-hungry city of Los Angeles and the drastic dropping of lake water levels after completion of the celebrated Mulholland system of canals and pipe tunnels that dried out the lake and the entire Owens valley downstream in favor of the far-away metropolis. Legal battles led to small compromises in the 1990s to raise lake levels slightly and keep minimal water for local use, but it is far from sufficient to restore the damaged natural balance.

Lahaina

January 12, 2019

The alkaline salt lake at Lee Vining is a biotope of its own. Due to the high salt content and pH, there are many rare specialized animals, such as u.a. the salt flies. However, the city is disturbed by the city of Los Angeles in its natural sense, as the city taps into the freshwater inflows. As a result, the water level has dropped. Now begins a rethinking, hopefully in time.

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Informations

Elevation 1,990 m

Weather

Today

Friday 14 November

9°C

3°C

79 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Lee Vining, Mono County, California, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Mono Lake Shoreline

Panum Crater

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

Mono Lake (South Tufa Area)

Ellery Lake

Lee Vining - Vista Point

Bloody Canyon Trail - Walker Lake vista

Cooney Lake

Lyell Fork Valley

Mono Basin Visitor Center

Lee Vining Creek Delta Trail

Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center

1. Mono Lake Trail Loop — Mono Lake Tufa Natural Reserve

2. Lee Vining Creek Delta Trail — Lee Vining

3. Lee Vining Creek Trail and town loop — Lee Vining

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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