Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

Located in the high desert of the Eastern Sierra is Mono Lake, a large majestic body of water covering about 65 square miles.

On a calm day the lake mirrors the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mono Craters and islands in the lake, creating a visual feast for the many travelers that drive the adjacent Highway 395 through the town of Lee Vining. Its spectacular limestone tufa towers, lush green wetlands, immense populations of migratory birds, and the dazzling interplay of light and clouds make this lake a photographer's paradise.

The beauty and uniqueness of Mono Lake inspired the State of California to preserve it by creating the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve in 1982, a unit of California State Parks. Friends of Mono Lake Reserve works in partnership with the State Natural Reserve and seeks to care for Mono Lake's remarkable and fragile resources by funding interpretation, education, and protection of these lands.

The interpretive staff at the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve is funded in part from grants from the Friends of Mono Lake Reserve. For information on how you can support the Friends of Mono Lake Reserve please see our Support page.