South Tufa Loop Trail

South Tufa is Mono Lake's signature stop — a flat, roughly one-mile self-guided loop trail that winds through the densest cluster of tufa towers on the lake's south shore. These strange limestone-like spires form underwater where calcium-rich freshwater springs meet the lake's alkaline water, then get exposed as the lake's water level drops. The result looks more like a moonscape than typical Sierra scenery, and it's one of the most photographed spots in the Mono Basin.

What You'll See

The path is mostly flat with boardwalk sections protecting the fragile shoreline, and interpretive signs along the way explain the lake's unusual chemistry and ecology. Mono Lake is also one of the most important nesting and staging sites in North America for California gulls and migratory shorebirds, so it's worth bringing binoculars. Early morning and sunset are the best times for photography, when the towers throw long shadows across the water.

Getting There and Fees

The trailhead sits at the end of Test Station Road, off Highway 120 near its junction with US-395 south of Lee Vining. South Tufa is a fee area: $3 per person for ages 16 and up, paid at an unstaffed self-pay station at the trailhead, with kids 15 and under free. The area is accessible year-round, though June through October brings the mildest weather and easiest access.