Mono Mills Loop
Total Miles
3.6
Elevation
2,416.41 ft
Duration
0.5 Hours
Technical Rating
Best Time
Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter
Trail Overview
The trail starts just off the 120. It is a sandy trail lined with pine trees, enjoying scenic views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains. The trail from the West entrance on 120 starts easy, but around mile 2.7, it gets a bit challenging for low-clearance vehicles for a quarter mile due to tire ruts caused by rain runoff. The loop begins and ends on the 120.
Photos of Mono Mills Loop
Difficulty
Most of the trail is sandy but rather easy. There is a short section that has some ruts caused by run outs.
History
The Mono Mills, in the Eastern Sierra, was a bustling lumber camp that thrived by supplying Bodie's booming mines. The discovery of alternative energy sources like electricity at Green Creek, coupled with declining gold production in nearby towns, led to Mono Mills' abandonment by 1917. Today, Mono Mills stands as a near-vanished ghost town, a reminder of the bygone era fueled by the California Gold Rush.