Back to the week

The scenic way in

The drive from Reno

Reno to Mammoth down the 395 — hot springs, a ghost town, tufa towers, and the June Lake Loop. Roughly four hours of driving; budget the day.

Monday · Aug 3

Two legs, zero hurry

The 395 south from Reno is one of the great American drives — high desert, hot springs, a ghost town, and a string of alpine lakes. Split it into two legs and stop wherever calls to you.

Leg 1Reno → Mono Lake · ~2.5 hr driving

Down the 395

Out of the neon and into the sage. The Sierra rises on your right the whole way south — with a hot spring and a ghost town if you have the time.

  1. Reno-Tahoe International Airportwheels up → wheels on
  2. The Reno Archthe Biggest Little City in the World
  3. Truckee River Walkstretch your legs downtown
  4. Overland Restaurant, GardnervilleBasque comfort food
  5. Topaz Lakethe state-line lake
  6. Bridgeporttiny high-country town
  7. Travertine Hot Springa soak with a Sierra view
  8. Bodie State Historic Parkgold-rush ghost town
  9. Whoa Nellie Deli, Lee Vininglegendary gas-station kitchen
  10. South Tufa, Mono Lakeleg two starts here
Leg 1 on Google Maps
Leg 2Mono Lake → Mammoth · 1 hr 22 min driving

Mono Lake & the June Lake Loop

The pretty part. Tufa towers rising out of an inland sea, then lake after lake on the June Lake Loop — and a brewery before the last push to the house.

  1. South Tufa, Mono Lakeotherworldly limestone towers · recommended, adds ~30 min
  2. Grant Lakestart of the June Lake Loop · recommended, adds ~10 min
  3. Silver Lakethe classic Sierra postcard
  4. Gull Lake
  5. June Lake Beachsandy, swimmable
  6. June Lake Brewing131 S Crawford Ave
  7. Basecamp · 2018 Lodestar Dryou made it
Leg 2 on Google Maps
Watercolor: tufa towers rising from Mono LakeSouth Tufa · Mono Lake

Recommended · adds ~30 min

Mono Lake · South Tufa

An inland sea older than the ice ages, rimmed with limestone towers that rise straight out of the water. A short, flat boardwalk wander — and nothing else on the drive looks remotely like it.

Recommended · adds ~10 min

June Lake Loop

Sixteen miles off the 395 that feel like Switzerland — Grant, Silver, Gull, and June strung beneath 10,000-foot walls, with a swimmable beach before the final twenty minutes home.

Watercolor: an alpine lake on the June Lake Loop beneath jagged peaksthe June Lake Loop