Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
Notice: Partial Closure — Past Wildfire — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $3 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 647-6331
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Alert The Mono Lake Tufa SNR Boardwalk at County Park is closed until further notice due to the Inn Fire.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Fire restriction Partial Closure — Past WildfireThe Mono Lake Tufa SNR Boardwalk at County Park is closed until further notice due to the Inn Fire.
Posted by the park 2026-04-03. Official alert
Overview
In Mono County, about 22 miles north of Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve covers about 41,699 acres.
Things to do include boating, swimming, wildlife watching, biking, and picnicking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day use | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
Day Use: Sunrise to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $3 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $3.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in most areas, except for the State Reserve Boardwalk and the County Park.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingBiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
The Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was established to preserve the spectacular tufa towers, calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It also protects the lake surface itself as well as the wetlands and other sensitive habitat for the 1 – 2 million birds that feed and rest at Mono Lake each year. Through a cooperative effort between CA State Parks, US Forest Service, and the Mono Lake Committee, naturalists lead guided walks at the South Tufa Area Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bird walks are offered at the Mono Lake County Park and State Natural Reserve boardwalk mid-May through Labor Day. Phone (760) 647-6331 for more information.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
An accessible picnic table is available at the Mono Lake Trail trailhead. Accessible parking and restrooms are available nearby.
Trails
The South Tufa Interpretive Trail is located at the end of South Tufa Day-Use Road that can be accessed from Highway 120 east of Highway 395. This trail offers a 1.0-mile self-guided nature loop trail to the shore and through the spectacular grove of tufa towers. This is the best place to visit if you have time for only one stop. The first 0.25-mile of this trail is accessible, and hard packed native soil. Beyond the first 0.25-mile, the trail may be useable for some people with limited mobility.
As of May 22, 2025 the Boardwalk Interpretive Trail is closed until further notice due to damage from the Inn Fire.
The Mono Lake Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 0.75 miles each way. The trail starts at the Old Marina Parking lot located directly off highway 395 (1 mile north of Lee Vining). The main trail provides 0.33 mile accessible trail (including the Dave Gaines boardwalk) through the wetland to near the lake shore. There is an 0.42 mile spur accessible trail up the nearby hillside that provides lake views and close up view of associated tufa. Trail routes provide close up access and views of the lake and associated tufa. The surface is aggregate & wood. The trail is generally flat with slopes at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 8%.Accessible picnic table and restroom is provided near the trailhead parking lot.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Boardwalk Interpretive Trail 4 FT Average Wood
5% Maximum 2% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Mono Lake Trail 5 FT Average Aggregate & Wood
8% Maximum 5% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- US Highway 395
Lee Vinning, CA 93541 - Nearest town
- Mammoth Lakes — about 22 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.9388, -119.0261
- Phone
- (760) 647-6331
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is located on Highway 395, 13 miles east of Yosemite National Park, near the town of Lee Vining, California.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology