Mono Lake Canoe Tours

Discover bubbling springs, alkali flies, brine shrimp, underwater tufa towers, migrating birds, and crystalline waters, all from the unique vantage point of a canoe.

Guided canoe tours provide a unique look into the ecology and geology of this high desert lake. No canoe experience is necessary and we provide all the equipment. Our experienced canoe guides will share with you some of Mono Lake's unusual natural history as well as the story about efforts to protect this nearly million-year-old lake.

Additional Information:

• Plan to park at South Tufa 45 minutes before your tour launch time. We cannot accommodate late-comers. Scroll down to view a map.
• The canoe tours launch from Navy Beach, approximately a 15-minute walk from South Tufa. The sandy footpath to Navy Beach is located immediately to your right as you enter the South Tufa parking lot. There will be a hand-painted white sign indicating the trail.
• Please be prepared with sturdy water shoes. You may get wet up to the knee.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I get to South Tufa?

From Highway 395 turn onto Highway 120 East (located five miles south of Lee Vining and 25 miles north of Mammoth Lakes). Follow the signs for South Tufa. Drive five miles on Highway 120 East and turn left at the sign for South Tufa. Continue straight onto a one-mile-long gravel road and park in the South Tufa parking lot. Plan to park at South Tufa 45 minutes before your tour launch time.

Do I have to pay for parking? Parking is free for canoe tour participants. There will be a white and green hand-painted Canoe Tours sign on your immediate right as you enter the parking lot. You must collect your free canoe tour parking pass from the envelope on the back of the sign and display it on your dashboard to receive free parking.

Where do the canoe tours launch from? The canoe tours launch from Navy Beach, approximately a 15-minute walk from South Tufa. The sandy footpath to Navy Beach is located immediately to your right as you enter the South Tufa parking lot. There will be a hand-painted white sign indicating the unpaved trail. When you arrive at Navy Beach, your Mono Lake Committee guides will greet you by the canoe trailer, adjacent to the green restroom.

What should I bring for the tour? In addition to sturdy water shoes (Chacos, Tevas, or other water sandals), please bring sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), plenty of drinking water, and a plastic bag or dry bag to keep your camera or binoculars from getting wet.

What is the canoe tour cancellation policy? If you’d like to cancel your reservation, you must call (760) 647-6595 at least 24 hours in advance of your canoe tour launch time in order to receive a refund. If you cancel within 24 hours, or arrive late and miss your tour, you will be charged for the full amount.

Do tours still run in smoky weather? If the air quality in the area exceeds 150 AQI the morning of the tour, tours will be canceled, and a full refund will be issued. The decision to cancel the tours is usually made early in the morning on the day of the tour, and we will send a notification email before the planned start time. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a more advanced warning than this, so be sure to check your inbox the morning of your tour if there is any smoke in the area.

What if there is inclement weather? There is a chance that your canoe tour will be canceled due to unsafe wind, rain, or lightning conditions on the lake. The decision to cancel a tour is made at the time of the tour in response to conditions on the lake, so unfortunately we cannot notify you in advance. If a canoe tour is canceled due to wind, you will receive a full refund and a free walking tour will be offered instead.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions? Please call the Mono Lake Committee at (760) 647-6595 or email the Canoe Coordinator.