Trail Overview
This route starts at Cottonwood Canyon Road and ends at Highway 167 near the junction of Highway 395. The sandy graded road runs parallel to Mono Lake and offers good views of Mono Lake and its islands, as well as 270-degree views of the Eastern Sierras and the Bodie Mountain area. The trail is lined with small bushes and some larger trees, allowing you good views of everything throughout the journey. The trail narrows to one vehicle wide between Highway 395 and Conway Ranch Road. Note that there is a sign at the Wilson Creek water crossing claiming the road is closed and only open to residents and authorized vehicles between the Wilson Creek and Conway Road (a 400-yard section). However, this is BLM land, and the sign is not legally enforceable, as the area remains open to public vehicle access. It was likely put up by the nearby Conway Ranch HOA.
Difficulty
This trail earns a moderate-easy difficulty rating due to the water crossing at Wilson Creek. The water level can vary, so use caution. The sandy graded road has some light ruts from traffic, but the water crossing is the primary challenge that elevates the difficulty rating from what would otherwise be an easier route.
History
The Goat Ranch Cutoff was an old road in Mono County that followed a historic stagecoach route, connecting the Scanavino family's Goat Ranch near Mono Lake with the Bodie and Lundy mining camps.
