California is home to strangely beautiful places, from massive ghost towns frozen in time to virtually endless deserts with intriguing millennia-old carvings. If you’re an adventurous road-tripper looking for your next exciting escape, this corner of the state, just five hours from L.A., is perfect.
A surreal landscape in the Golden State
Mono Lake is a beautifully strange corner of California, just east of Yosemite National Park. It’s one of the oldest lakes in North America, formed more than 760,000 years ago, according to NASA. The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of about 157 feet, but it stretches wide across the desert. With no outlet, salt and minerals accumulate, making it about two and a half times saltier than the ocean. In fact, it was the very own Mark Twain who named this place the “Dead Sea of California” in his book Roughing It.
One of the most striking features of Mono Lake is its tufa towers. These tall, spiky rock formations look almost like they came from another planet. They are made of limestone and form when underwater springs rich in calcium mix with the lake’s salty, alkaline water, Mono Lake Committee explains. Over time, the chemical reaction creates hard mineral deposits that grow into towers. When the water level drops, these ghostly shapes are revealed, giving the lake its surreal and otherworldly look.
What to see and do at Mono Lake
The main attraction at Mono Lake is its strange tufa towers, of course. You can walk around them, take photos, and explore the trails, and it’s especially magical if you do this around sunset. Another fun activity is swimming in the salty water, thanks to its high salt concentration, you float easily, just like in the Dead Sea! Birdwatchers will also enjoy spotting California gulls and other migratory birds. It’s a unique place to hike, kayak, explore, and experience nature in an unusual way.
When is the best time to visit Mono Lake
If you’re planning to visit, late summer and early fall are the best seasons. The weather is warm, the skies are usually clear, and it’s the perfect time for photography, bird-watching, or kayaking. Just remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, because the high elevation means the sun is strong. Comfortable shoes are also a must if you want to explore the tufa areas and boardwalk trails.