Lee Vining Creek Delta

Lee Vining Creek picks up glacial meltwater high near Tioga Pass and runs about 16 miles down through the canyon and the town before fanning out into a wetland delta at the edge of Mono Lake. That delta, where fresh creek water meets the lake's alkaline shallows, is one of the richest wildlife-viewing spots in the whole basin — locals treat a walk down to it as a routine evening outing, not a special-occasion hike.

The Walk From Town

An easy trail follows the creek south from a small interpretive sign near Lake View Lodge on Highway 395, tracing the water through stands of aspen and willow before opening onto sagebrush flats near the lake. It's a flat, easy walk of a couple of miles round trip, and the path connects to the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, so you can turn it into a loop with a stop for maps and restrooms.

Prime Birding Habitat

The delta itself is a recognized eBird hotspot and a stop on the Pacific Flyway. Eared grebes, Wilson's phalaropes, and red-necked phalaropes gather here by the thousands during migration, feeding on the alkali flies and brine shrimp that thrive in the shallows. The Mono Lake Committee runs guided bird walks from the nearby county park in summer, and the delta's mix of freshwater riparian growth and open lakeshore is worth a stop even outside peak migration.