Why Hike the Mono Lake Tufa Trail?
Wandering among the tufa towers here is an otherworldly experience, perhaps most comparable to touring a cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The key difference, though, is that caves don’t have sunsets to light them up and huge lakes to reflect the sunsets in. Also – and we mean no disrespect to spelunker sensibilities – the tufa towers are far more creative in their architecture than the simple pointy towers you find in your standard cave. Think Gaudi lefthanded or Seuss with a hangover. Distance from Yosemite: The trailhead is 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Yosemite’s Tioga Pass entrance. Best Time to Visit: At sunrise and sunset, when the sky and tufa light up in shades of orange and the lake reflects it all. Difficulty: 1 out of 10. Hikes don’t get easier than this, except possibly Washburn Point. Crowd Factor: It’s not quite Lower Yosemite Falls, but there are still lots of people popping in and out all day long. Parking: There’s a large lot at the trailhead. Nearest Bath
