Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center — Attraction in Mammoth Lakes

This is a fairly new site that overlooks Mono Lake and has a museum that describes the lake, the volcanoes, and the Tufa that makes this lake a great picture spot.

We visited in early June 2017 and the lake water level was high, thus only a few of the Tufa {Per Park service - calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water} were visible, but the museum had several that could be touched and photographed.

The Visitor Center is closed Dec. 1 - March 31 and while there in June 2017 the road from Yosemite to Mono Lake closed due to a landslide, one of many we saw on our 3,069 mile up the California coast {CA-1} to Crater Lake and down to Phoenix via US-395 and other roads.

This lake is very salty and full of chemicals from the runoff of the various mountains; years ago it was partly drained and the wind blew the chemical dust all the way to Los Angles, and thus caused mayor health problems for tens of thousands. Since this the lake has been kept fairly full and during the spring months overfilled so that the fall Tufa cannot be seen.

Good stop, plan on taking many photos and spending from one to two hours; if walking the paths to the lake shores, then plan on three...

Open limited hours, Thu- Sun so had to come back as I arrived on a Weds. Went there to get my Veteran America the Beautiful pass renewed and had to wait 20 minutes because out of the 5 people working there apparently only 1 knows how to make the pass (and she was on lunch). Once she was available I sat for another 10 minutes while her and 2 other women made small talk. She made the pass in 2 minutes, since I already had an expired one. I am obviously still a veteran, it wasn't rocket science, but I felt like it was for this group. No one seemed to have any knowledge, except to tell me Devils Postpile was opening the next day. Yes. I didn't ask that but that's basically what they all knew that day so I just smiled and said, great. Not sure if everyone is new or stoned but they didn't make a good impression. The only people they seemed to want to talk to...

The Mono Basin Visitor center is a bit of history and explanations of a unique piece of California. Let me explain. The history of Mono lake can be interesting for the history buffs. The early people living here under the harsh conditions of the area give a vista into another era. The features that have been carved under the lake are unique. The intrusion of man and the draining of the lake to feed Los Angeles created a different set of problems. The current efforts to restore some of the lake have again changed the basin. The vistas from the center are wonderful. The history in the displays of the center are informative. The movies in the theatre are OK, however bit slow moving for me. The staff is ever so helpful. The bird life around the are is incredible! Be sure to get your maps and take a hike. It is well...