Mono County Day Trips Highway 395

Mono County is a diverse land of sagebrush-covered plains that lead to soaring, jagged peaks and dormant volcanoes in east-central California. Set between the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the California/Nevada border; this 3,000-square-mile county is 94% publicly owned.

Mono County boasts many natural wonders, from the Eastern Sierra in Yosemite National Park to the unique high-desert saline lake named after Mono Lake and the historic ghost town of Bodie. Scenic Highway 395 winds its way north-south through the county’s heart, dividing the dramatic mountains to the west from the vast desert valley in the east.

Mono Lake California

Mono Lake is located just east of Highway 395, close to the small town of Lee Vining. This saltwater lake is famous for its Tufa towers made of limestone that stand tall above the water, providing a stunning view, primarily when the dark blue waters reflect the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The salty water makes swimmers float like a cork, but it sustains trillions of brine shrimp, attracting millions of migratory birds to feast on them, making it a bird watcher’s paradise.

June Lake Loop

This incredibly scenic 15-mile drive that starts 10 miles south of Mono Lake boasts dramatic Sierra peaks and stunning alpine scenery dotted with beautiful lakes tucked within a horseshoe-shaped canyon. If you want to get out and experience this gorgeous area, hiking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and boating are all possible here. Several restaurants and the Double Eagle Resort and Spa can also be found along the loop.

Mammoth Lakes California

Less than a 30-minute drive south of June Lake is Mammoth Mountain. When the snow is gone, visitors can take in everything from thrilling mountain bike rides to countless hikes, fly-fishing, wilderness camping, and more. A scenic gondola leads to the Top of the Sierra, and an interpretive center on the mountain’s summit at over 11,000 feet above sea level. This world-famous resort offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in winter, with over 3,500 acres of terrain, including 28 lifts and seven terrain parks.

Twin Lakes Bridgeport California

The area can be visited in summer or winter. There is always plenty to do in any season. Bridgeport is known to have some of the finest winter backcountry recreations around. Fishing is one of the top draws at Twin Lakes. Several trout species can be found in the rivers and lakes in the Bridgeport area. These include Rainbow, Brown, and Cutthroat varieties. The tackle shop at the resort is well-equipped to get you geared up and out on the water. Marina services include boat rentals (these are pet-friendly!) and mooring. Kayaks and paddleboards can also be rented.

Bodie Ghost Town

One of the most popular attractions in Mono County. In its heyday, Bodie, set in a remote area about 24 miles southeast of Bridgeport, was a mining boomtown with a population of around 10,000. Today, it’s home to just six full-time residents and, allegedly, plenty of ghosts as one of the most well-preserved ghost towns in the country. Countless saloons were at their peak in the late 1870s, a red-light district, and even opium dens. Today, a small part of the town still survives in a state of “arrested decay” as a National Historic Site and State Historic Park.

Benton Hot Springs

Benton Hot Springs offers travelers a relaxing place to soak in natural hot springs. The resort’s inn is in a historic 1940s building with seven unique rooms. Benton Hot Springs’s other accommodations include two private landmark homes with luxurious hot tubs, plus ten other private hot tub areas for both day and overnight guest use.

Travertine Hot Springs

Travertine Hot Springs is an easily reachable location situated just south of Bridgeport. At this place, people can bask in breathtaking views of the Sierras while unwinding in the comforting and ideally-warmed 103-degree waters. The spring-fed pools are separated by rocks and flow from a refreshing mountain stream.

Devils Postpile National Monument

Devils Postpile National Monument protects a striking collection of magnificent basalt columns and a gorgeous 101-foot waterfall known as Rainbow Falls, which can be reached by boarding a shuttle bus at Mammoth Mountain. Getting to the columns’ base requires an easy, slightly less than a half-mile hike, while the falls can be reached by hiking a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail.

Hot Creek Fish Hatchery

Less than 10 miles east of Mammoth Lakes, this fish hatchery is a fun, educational, and free attraction run by the California Department of Fish and Game. Millions of trout are raised here and planted into area lakes and streams yearly. Watching the fish along the “raceways” in their various developmental stages offers an excellent time for all ages, especially when the trout clamor to the surface at feeding time.

Inyo County Day Trips Along Highway 395

Mono Hot Springs Cabins