Destinations · California
Mono Lake
CA · 38.0166, -119.0093
Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road is a signed byway within 30 miles of Mono Lake, California.
Understand
Starting in 1941 the streams that fed Mono Lake were diverted for use by the city of Los Angeles. With a yearly evaporation rate of , the lake level quickly dropped, going from an elevation of 6,417 feet (1,956m) above sea level to a low point of 6,372 feet (1,942m) above sea level. The accompanying 31% loss of surface area and 50% loss of water volume had a devastating effect on the estimated two million birds that used the lake each year, as well as causing air quality problems due to the dust from the now-exposed lakebed.
Day-trip loops
Ready-made loops for Mono Lake are growing. What is within reach is measured today; plan a live day trip and the engine routes it now.
Within reach
Measured from Byway's own registries, 30 miles around town.
Scenic byways
- Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road · 15 mi · national
National parks
- Yosemite National Park · 14 mi
Public land
- Inyo National Forest · inside
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · 10 mi
- Sierra National Forest · 24 mi
Campgrounds
- Lower Lee Vining Campground · 10 mi
- Moraine Campground · 10 mi
- Aspen Campground · 11 mi
- Big Bend Campground · 12 mi
- Lower Virginia Creek Primitive Campground · 12 mi
- Upper Virginia Creek Primitive Campground · 13 mi
- Ellery Lake Campground · 14 mi
- Junction Campground · 14 mi
Lookouts
- Tioga Lake Overlook Info Site · 15 mi
- Disappearing Meadows · 18 mi
- Lembert Dome · 21 mi
- View on Tenaya Lake · 29 mi
Named places
- Black Point · 5 mi
- South Tufa Area · 5 mi
- Navy Beach · 5 mi
- Navy Beach · 5 mi
- Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area · 5 mi
- Flowing Well · 5 mi
- Simons Spring · 5 mi
- Waford Spring · 5 mi
A day out of Mono Lake, planned on real roads
The engine starts from town, weaves the byways and verified stops around it, and hands back an honest schedule — zero hallucinations.
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Take the scenic way to Mono Lake.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.