"Mono Lake" a Lee Vining Travel Page by chewy3326

Mono Lake, a saline, 700,000 year-old body of water that the Mono Basin drains into, is beautiful in a haunting way. Mark Twain called it "The Dead Sea of California"; but in truth, its waters support a large web of life. Once threatened by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the lake is now rebounding, and for wildlife, life is returning to normal.

From the town of Lee Vining, look west! You can see the jagged peaks of the Sierra Crest. The easiest way to appreciate some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in California is to drive the Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway, which starts at Lee Vining and follows Hwy 120 to Tioga Pass, the entrance of Yosemite National Park.