Mono Lake for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
At first glance, Mono Lake (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514) looks like an other-worldly body of water, with its calcium carbonate tufa formations towering above the water line. Upon closer examination, this Eastern Sierra natural landmark appears to be even more intriguing. And although this mountain lake seems to pose some formidable natural barriers from afar, there are actually several accessible trails and boardwalks that allow wheelchair-users and slow walkers an up-close-and-personal-look.
Mono Basin Visitor Center
The best place to begin your visit is at the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center, which is just a short drive north from the intersection of Highway 120 and Highway 395 in Lee Vining.
There’s plenty of accessible parking in front, and level access to the building and the accessible restrooms The visitor center houses a ranger information desk, a number of interpretive exhibits and a back deck that has a great view of the lake. And if the visitor center isn’t open, you can still access the back deck via a 250-foot paved level trail.
There’s also a quarter-mile paved trail that runs from the back deck and loops back around to the parking lot, which offers a closer view of the lake. It’s not a level trail but it’s probably doable for most folks with scooters or power wheelchairs. And if you can’t do the whole trail, then start near the interpretive display in the parking area, and take the level part to the first vantage point for a nice view of the lake.
Picnic Grounds Road
There are also a few accessible trails – and some picnic tables – located at Picnic Grounds Road, which is just a short drive north of the visitor center. It’s actually the second turn on the east side of the highway, and it’s marked with a simple “Mono Lake Access” sign.
There’s accessible parking near the accessible vault toilets, and a second accessible parking area next to the trailhead in the lower parking lot. And if you’d like to enjoy a picnic lunch there are some standard tables under a tree, on a level asphalt pad, about halfway between the trailhead and the toilets.
From the parking lot a.15- mile hard-packed dirt path leads out to the .2-mile David Gaines Boardwalk. The boardwalk meanders out to the lakeshore where it abruptly ends; however there are low bumpers along the trail, so you can get a great view of the lake from just about anywhere along the boardwalk. And if you’d like to take a break, there are also a few benches along the way.
There’s also another accessible trail that starts near the beginning of the boardwalk and offers some nice lake views from a higher vantage point. There is a gradual incline on this hard-packed dirt trail, but it’s doable for most wheelchair-users and slow walkers. At the .5 mile point there’s a bench to sit down and enjoy the expansive view. A tufa rock that was formed thousands of years ago marks the end of the accessible trail another .15-miles down the line.
And if you don’t want to do any hiking, there’s also a nice view of Mono Lake from the parking lot.
State Reserve Boardwalk
Another place to catch a good lake view is on the State Reserve Boardwalk which can be accessed from Mono Lake County Park. Located off of Highway 395, the turnoff to this northernmost site is marked by a brown sign that reads, “County Park”.
Accessible parking is located at the far end of the lot, with ramp access up to the accessible restrooms. A fairly level dirt and grass trail begins at the other end of the parking lot and leads .1 mile through the park to the accessible boardwalk.
The quarter-mile boardwalk winds out along the marsh to the lakeshore, and the viewing platform at the end offers a close look at the tufa formations as they poke up out of the lake. There are benches to sit and enjoy the view along the way, and a number of interpretive panels about the avian residents.
This spot is also a colorful wildflower site if you hit it just right – usually in mid-July. Additionally, there are a few picnic tables in a level shaded grassy area near the boardwalk, if you’d like to pack along a picnic lunch.
South Tufa Area
The final accessible Mono Lake site is located south of the turnoff to Tioga Road, but it’s definitely worth the short detour. Follow Highway 395 south, past the June Lake Loop, and turn east on Highway 120. The turnoff to the South Tufa Area is about five miles down the road on the left.
There’s accessible parking near the trailhead, and accessible vault toilets on the other side of the parking lot. A quarter-mile paved level trail leads past a wayside exhibit of a tufa formation and out to a boardwalk. The boardwalk is just .1-mile long and it terminates at a sandy beach. Although the access ends at the beach you can still get a good view of the tufa formations that dot this shore of the lake. If you only have time for one Mono Lake stop, make it this one, as it has the most unusual tufa formations.
[book_promo name=”yose”]
