Eastern Sierras, June 2025

Registration is near the bottom of the page.

General information about our destinations can be found here. This includes weather information, links to hikes, videos about the geology we will explore, and much more.

This year we have a rustic group campground reserved. The campground has two sturdy vault toilets, but not running water. Everyone should bring water with them (there is a rest stop a few miles away so we can refill containers daily).

Tentative itinerary

We have a full five days for hiking and exploring. If you can’t make all five days, you can still register and join us, but please don’t register if you can’t make at least three days of hiking.

Most days we will start driving at 8:00/8:30 (the sun rises about 5:30 AM!). Most days we’ll have multiple hikes, and you are welcome to skip one or the other if you prefer that.

Snow levels are generally minimal by June in this area, but hikes at higher elevations may be adjusted if we have late snowfall.

We’re avoiding the more popular destinations on Monday and Friday, hoping to avoid potential weekend crowds.

• Sunday, June 15th: Arrive mid-day and settle in. We can explore the obsidian dome that is right next to the campground.
• Monday: Mono Lake Tufas. Today we’ll complete three short hikes around Mono Lake, starting on the north side (although this may be close due to late-May 2025 fire).
  • North side:
    • 1.1 mile, 200 ft hike to Panum Crater Summit (AllTrails map & Youtube video) This is no the north side of Mono Lake
  • Then we’ll drive to the south side:
    • 1.3 mile hike that loops through the South Tufa Area where you can walk right next to tufas (AllTrails map & Youtube video).
    • 2 miles, 500 feet, hike to the Black Point Volcano (AllTrails map & Youtube video)
  • Monday evening potluck dinner for anyone who wants to share a dish with others.
• Tuesday: Hiking on Mammoth Mountain–we’ll be at about 11,000 feet!
  • Trip up the Gondola to Mammoth Mountain (extra cost, kids 12 and under free).
  • As of May 26, many ski lifts/slopes are closing and some hiking trails are opening, but won’t know what is open for sure until closer to our date.
  • On the way down we’ll get off the gondola at the McCoy Station and then hike down the Stanton Trail back to the base (assuming the trail is clear of snow). This trail is about two miles and does not appear to be one of their mountain biking trails (so no mountain bike riders flying down past us). It is described as “High-alpine terrain gives way to thick pine forest as you snake your way from mid-mountain at McCoy Station down to the Adventure Center.”
• Wednesday: Hot Creek and fish hatchery.
• Thursday: Crowley Lake Columns and Upper Rock Creek Pond
  • The morning hike will be through the drier side of 395, along chaparral to get to Crowley Lake Columns. This 4.2 mile, 50o foot out and back trail will get us to the fascinating Crowly Lake Columns (Alltrails map & Youtube vide0 & ABC10 news video). Hopefully the water level won’t be so high to hide all the columns, but some of them may be inaccessible (lake level).
  • In the afternoon, we’ll head up into a canyon coming down the Sierras for a leisurely 2.4 mile, 350 feet loop through forests around Rock Creek Pond (AllTrails map)
• Friday: Tioga Pass route
  • Saddlebag Lake Loop off the road to Tioga Pass. Option of either four miles or eight miles; we’ll all hike together up one side of Saddlebag Lke for the first two miles, then anyone who wants to cut short will hike back down the other side. Those who opt for eight miles will continue for another four mile loop, arriving back near the junction where the short hikers take off. If the short hikers want to take a break near Greenstone Lake, they can relax there while the long-hikers complete the external four miles.
  • Some folks may want to drive back over Tioga Pass after the hike, and skip Friday night camping (it’s only about 200 miles back to the Bay Area from the trailhead).
• Saturday, June 21st: Pack up and head home.

Food and drink

Everyone is responsible for their own food. On Monday night we’ll have a ‘potluck’ dinner for anyone who wants to share their meal with others.

There is no running water at the campground, so bring a few gallons of water. There is a rest stop on the highway a few miles away where we can fill up on days we run short.

Camping or other lodging

Most folks will be staying in the campground. It holds up to 13 cars, so people are encouraged to carpool. If you’d like to carpool, please send Lee an email and he’ll give you access to our carpool document on Google. This document is only shared with those who express interest.

The campground only has vault toilets; I’ll be bringing plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer (the Forest Service warned me that with possible government cutbacks they may not have that stocked for us).

Paying

• When you are ready to register, please select one Donation per person (you can mix and match contribution level).
• For the Tuesday Gondola ride to the summit, you’ll also have to buy one ticket per person. Unfortunately, the price just went up for June 2025, and it’s $39/person.
• If you are staying in the campground, select one Camping ticket per vehicle.
• The road to Devil’s Postpile is closed for construction, so it looks like we won’t be able to hike there this year 🙁
• If you want to drive over Tioga Pass (Highway 120, generally considered the shortest and fastest route to the Bay Area), Tioga Pass requires ticketed entry even with a National Parks pass. They are only $2; it’s more about limiting the number of people going through the park. Buy a pass through Recreation.gov as soon as you know you are coming, or even if you’re not quite sure you are coming. They do run out.

Once you register I’ll provide you with links for PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, or Zelle (even a check in the mail) for payment.