Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Lee Vining, California

This well-graded Forest Service road takes you along a cliff overlooking the 120 below. It offers stunning views of the East Sierras into Yosemite National Park. After the cliff, it meanders into the forest and ends at the Roberts Environmental Station (Private). You will see views of Mono Lake on t...
Learn more about IN05 to Roberts Station

Farrington Siphon North Trail is a well-graded gravel road. It hugs a cliff edge 350 feet above Highway 395. It offers beautiful views of Mono Lake, Mono Craters, and the surrounding mountain peaks. It can be accessed from Horse Meadows Road or Oil Plant Road off the 395.
Learn more about Farrington Siphon North

This trail is a side spur trail off of the Log Cabin Mine Ridge Trail. The trail takes you to a spot with 360 views of Mono Lake, the surrounding Eastern Sierra Peaks, and into Yosemite National Park. It is a rocky and bumpy track. Be cautious of a few unknowing dips while climbing to the top.
Learn more about 1N03C

This short track is accessed from Highway 395. It is a sandy, easy road. Horse Meadow is a pretty meadow that offers beautiful views of Eastern Sierra. Currently, the trail is closed 1.23 miles down due to seasonal trail damage. You can hike the rest of the trail if you want to explore. The trail ca...
Learn more about Horse Meadows

This descent drops over 250 feet in just 2.5 miles as it approaches Mono Lake through scenic open terrain. The sand and gravel trail makes its way down towards the lake through an open meadow lined with brush, offering excellent views of Mono Lake, the Eastern Sierra, and Crater Mountain throughout ...
Learn more about Oil Plant Road - FS 01N18

This gravel trail is well-graded for most of the year. It takes you on a scenic journey through Sawmill Canyon. It offers beautiful views of Mt. Gibbs, Mt. Lewis, Parker Peak, Blacktop Peak, Mono Lake, and Crater Mountain. Gains the traveler access to Walker Lake Trailhead and Parker Lake Trailhead.
Learn more about Farrington Siphon South

This 5-mile track begins just north of the Mono Lake Visitor Center and immediately delivers sweeping views of Mono Lake and its unique tufas. The road starts paved, but by mile 1.2, it transitions into gravel. Along the way, you’ll notice remnants of a recent wildfire that still mark the landscape....
Learn more about Cemetery Road

This scenic descent drops 380 feet over 1.7 miles as it approaches the South Tufa area at Mono Lake. The trail leads from the Panum Crater area down to near Mono Lake, winding slowly into a canyon with high walls on both sides. The route is very narrow, barely one car wide, and features very thick b...
Learn more about Panum Crater Pit - FS 1N30

This route drops around 150 feet in elevation as it heads toward Mono Lake, cutting through the scenic pumice Valley. The sand and pumice trail follows power lines and is surrounded by impressive views of Crater Mountain, the Eastern Sierras, and Mono Lake. As you approach the lake, the trail narrow...
Learn more about Pumice Valley - FS1N36

This relatively flat trail takes you to the historic Panum Crater, offering an educational and scenic journey through volcanic terrain. The route provides beautiful views of the Eastern Sierras and Crater Mountain area, as well as excellent vantage points of Panum Crater itself. This trail offers vi...
Learn more about Panum Crater Road - FS 1S28

This bouncy trail gains access to the Walker Lake Trailhead. It starts off with more sand and rocks. As it climbs in elevation, it turns into gravel and rocks. The trail goes through a pinyon pine forest. Two wheel drive/low clearance vehicles can probably make it if they drive slowly.
Learn more about Walker Lake Trailhead

This scenic route runs parallel to the south side of Mono Lake, taking you past the historic South Tufa formations where you can learn about the area's geological history. The trail climbs just under 100 feet and drops over 200 feet over under 4.5 miles, offering many beautiful views of Mono Lake an...
Learn more about Test Station Road

This 8-mile out-and-back trail starts at the June Lake Scenic Loop and wraps around the east side of Grant Lake, offering a chance to experience the beauty of Grant Lake up close. You'll pass two open gates within the first mile that are typically unlocked unless utility work is being done. The trac...
Learn more about Grant Lake Road - FS 1S30

This trail begins on the east side of Highway 395 just south of Highway 120 and ends at West Portal Road. It is a sandy, dusty, and relatively narrow trail, approximately one vehicle wide, with sharp brush along the edges that can easily scratch vehicles. The trail is less traveled than nearby route...
Learn more about Forest Service Road 1S52

This route runs parallel to Mono Lake, providing 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains. You can see the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, including Mount Dana, Mount Gibbs, and Tioga Peak, which form the Sierra Crest to the west. You can also see the volcanic features of the Mono Craters to t...
Learn more about FS 2N19

This route is accessed off Cemetery Road, just east of Highway 395, and offers some of the best views of Mono Lake and its islands, along with great views of the Eastern Sierras and the Bodie Mountains. The area is open to bicycles and vehicles, but you cannot go off-road or drive on any hiking trai...
Learn more about Black Point - FS 2N42

This 3-mile in-and-out trail leads to the base of Crater Mountain, offering pretty views of the Eastern Sierras and Crater Mountain throughout the journey. The route climbs over 400 feet in just over 1.4 miles, transitioning to a shelf road near the end of the trail that provides elevated perspectiv...
Learn more about Crater Mountain - FS 1S18

This diverse route drops 338 feet over just over 3 miles, transitioning through multiple terrain types and ecosystems. Starting in an open meadow lined with lots of hardy low bushes, the trail steps into a sparse tall pine forest after about a mile. The route features sand and pumice surfaces throug...
Learn more about Crater Mountain Flats - FS 1S03

This trail starts on Highway 395 between the north and south entrances to the June Lake Scenic Loop, providing a direct route to Grant Lake. The wide, sandy track features a few patches of gravel and is typically maintained by the LA water district. The route offers stunning views of the Eastern Sie...
Learn more about Grant Lake Cutoff

This route runs parallel to Highway 395, passing by the June Lake utility district and offering beautiful views of Crater Mountain, the Eastern Sierras, and Mono Lake throughout the journey. The trail is one vehicle wide, lined with brush and wildflowers that add natural beauty to the corridor. Fish...
Learn more about Old State Highway - FS1S29D

This descent drops over 250 feet in just 2.5 miles as it approaches Mono Lake through scenic open terrain. The sand and gravel trail makes its way down towards the lake through an open meadow lined with brush, offering excellent views of Mono Lake, the Eastern Sierra, and Crater Mountain throughout ...
Learn more about Oil Plant Road - FS 01N18

This scenic descent drops 380 feet over 1.7 miles as it approaches the South Tufa area at Mono Lake. The trail leads from the Panum Crater area down to near Mono Lake, winding slowly into a canyon with high walls on both sides. The route is very narrow, barely one car wide, and features very thick b...
Learn more about Panum Crater Pit - FS 1N30

This route drops around 150 feet in elevation as it heads toward Mono Lake, cutting through the scenic pumice Valley. The sand and pumice trail follows power lines and is surrounded by impressive views of Crater Mountain, the Eastern Sierras, and Mono Lake. As you approach the lake, the trail narrow...
Learn more about Pumice Valley - FS1N36

This relatively flat trail takes you to the historic Panum Crater, offering an educational and scenic journey through volcanic terrain. The route provides beautiful views of the Eastern Sierras and Crater Mountain area, as well as excellent vantage points of Panum Crater itself. This trail offers vi...
Learn more about Panum Crater Road - FS 1S28

This descent drops over 250 feet in just 2.5 miles as it approaches Mono Lake through scenic open terrain. The sand and gravel trail makes its way down towards the lake through an open meadow lined with brush, offering excellent views of Mono Lake, the Eastern Sierra, and Crater Mountain throughout ...
Learn more about Oil Plant Road - FS 01N18

This scenic descent drops 380 feet over 1.7 miles as it approaches the South Tufa area at Mono Lake. The trail leads from the Panum Crater area down to near Mono Lake, winding slowly into a canyon with high walls on both sides. The route is very narrow, barely one car wide, and features very thick b...
Learn more about Panum Crater Pit - FS 1N30

This route drops around 150 feet in elevation as it heads toward Mono Lake, cutting through the scenic pumice Valley. The sand and pumice trail follows power lines and is surrounded by impressive views of Crater Mountain, the Eastern Sierras, and Mono Lake. As you approach the lake, the trail narrow...
Learn more about Pumice Valley - FS1N36

This relatively flat trail takes you to the historic Panum Crater, offering an educational and scenic journey through volcanic terrain. The route provides beautiful views of the Eastern Sierras and Crater Mountain area, as well as excellent vantage points of Panum Crater itself. This trail offers vi...
Learn more about Panum Crater Road - FS 1S28