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Routes
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Mono County
Lee Vining

Shepherds' Mono Tufa Cave – Mono Lake Trail loop from Lee Vining

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
Mono County
Lee Vining

Shepherds' Mono Tufa Cave – Mono Lake Trail loop from Lee Vining

Easy

5.0

(1)

2

hikers

Shepherds' Mono Tufa Cave – Mono Lake Trail loop from Lee Vining

01:49

6.60km

120m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 12, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Inyo National Forest

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1

223 m

Small Machinery Museum

Highlight (Segment) • Monument

2

380 m

View of the Lake

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

3

1.19 km

Mono Basin Visitor Center

Highlight • Rest Area

This visitor center has info about the geologic, biologic, and human history of the Mono Basin. You'll also find restrooms, water, and hiking trails down to Mono Lake. The center is generally open between May-October, but the exact dates fluctuate year to year so call ahead if you are visiting early or late in the season.

Tip by

4

1.25 km

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

Highlight • Lake

The 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. Hiking, photography, bird watching, swimming, boating, and cross-country skiing are popular in and around the lake.
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514

Tip by

5

2.32 km

Shepherds' Mono Tufa Cave

Highlight • Cave

Cool cave carved into the soft volcanic tufa rock near Mono Lake as shelter by shepherds grazing their livestock here in the last century.

Tip by

6

3.02 km

Mono Lake Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The total distance of this trail from the visitor center is 1.3 miles. The trail splits, goes right to a wooden boardwalk, and goes left at the junction to the Mono Lake Trail Connector.

Tip by

7

3.23 km

Mono Lake Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The total distance of this trail from the visitor center is 1.3 miles. The trail splits, goes right to a wooden boardwalk, and goes left at the junction to the Mono Lake Trail Connector.

Tip by

8

3.80 km

Mono Lake Picnic Area

Highlight • Rest Area

B

6.60 km

End point

Bus stop

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

2.49 km

1.45 km

1.39 km

1.27 km

Surfaces

2.50 km

2.15 km

1.77 km

183 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Thursday 25 June

31°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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