Explore Locally

“A country of wonderful contrasts. Hot deserts bounded by snow-laden mountains—cinders and ashes scattered on glacier-polished pavements—frost and fire working together in the making of beauty.”

— John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra (1911)

Bridgeport & the East Walker River

Bridgeport was once called Big Meadows, for its open grazing land, and the name still fits. Our hometown sits in a wide green valley at about 6,500 feet, with the Sawtooth Ridge rising to the west. Walk Main Street past the historic Mono County Courthouse, grab a coffee, and keep an eye out for the cattle and hay meadows that give the valley its old-ranch feel. Anglers come for Bridgeport Reservoir and the East Walker River below the dam, a well-loved trout stream.

Travertine Hot Springs

Just outside Bridgeport, Travertine Hot Springs offers a different kind of mountain experience: a chance to let the world fall quiet for a while. Warm geothermal water flows through mineral-rich rock, gradually depositing travertine into pale, sculptural formations that seem almost handmade. From the natural pools, the Sierra Nevada stretches across the horizon, especially beautiful in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon. These springs sit within a landscape shaped by ancient geological forces, where heat from deep beneath the earth still finds its way to the surface. Bring a towel, take your time, and enjoy the simple pleasure of soaking in warm water beneath an open sky. Few experiences feel more Eastern Sierra than watching the mountains change color while the water steams around you.

Good to know: about two miles southeast of town off Jack Sawyer Road. Free and primitive, occasionally closed for Tribal ceremonial use, and clothing-optional.

Buckeye Hot Springs

About ten miles out past Twin Lakes Road, Buckeye has pools right beside a cold creek. Like Travertine, it is clothing-optional, so bring a towel and an open mind.

Good to know: the road to Buckeye closes in winter.

Twin Lakes

Tucked beneath the dramatic peaks of the Hoover Wilderness, Twin Lakes offers the kind of mountain scenery that makes you instinctively slow down. Two beautiful alpine lakes sit surrounded by granite cliffs, evergreen forests, and meadows that change color with the seasons. The landscape has drawn generations of anglers, hikers, and travelers seeking refuge in the high country, where the water mirrors the mountains and the air carries the scent of pine. Spend the day fishing, paddling, hiking, or simply watching the light travel across the peaks. In the evening, when the last sunlight touches the ridgelines, the lakes become wonderfully still. It is a place to remember that sometimes the best adventures leave plenty of room for doing nothing at all.

Good to know: about ten miles southwest of Bridgeport.

Bodie State Historic Park

High in the hills east of the Sierra, Bodie remains suspended in a moment that most towns leave behind. Once a booming gold-mining settlement, it grew rapidly in the late nineteenth century, drawing miners, merchants, families, and fortune seekers into a harsh and unforgiving landscape. At its height, thousands called Bodie home, filling its streets with the noise and ambition of a town built on gold. Today, its weathered buildings stand much as they were left, preserved in a state of arrested decay. Peer through the windows and imagine the lives unfolding inside: a meal interrupted, a shop abandoned, a family moving on. Bodie is more than a ghost town; it is a rare glimpse into the restless spirit of the Old West.

Good to know: about 7 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 395, then 13 miles east on Highway 270; the last 3 miles are dirt, and the road closes in winter.

Virginia Lakes

For those willing to follow a winding mountain road into the high country, Virginia Lakes offers a quieter side of the Sierra Nevada. Nestled beneath rugged granite peaks near the edge of the Hoover Wilderness, these small alpine lakes feel wonderfully removed from the everyday world. In summer, wildflowers brighten the meadows, clear water reflects the surrounding summits, and trails lead deeper into a landscape shaped by glaciers and time. This is country for wandering without hurry, casting a fishing line, or finding a quiet rock to sit upon while clouds drift overhead. Come early in the day, when the air is crisp and the mountains feel close enough to touch. Virginia Lakes is a reminder that some of the most memorable places are reached by taking the road a little farther.

Good to know: the road to the lakes starts at Conway Summit, the highest point on Highway 395.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake is a place that feels as though it belongs to another world. Formed in an ancient basin beneath the Sierra Nevada, this remarkable lake has existed for at least 760,000 years, its salty waters sheltering tiny brine shrimp and providing a vital resting place for migratory birds. Along its shores, limestone towers called tufa rise from the water, sculpted slowly by the meeting of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. Visit in the early morning or at sunset, when the mountains reflect across the lake and the tufa casts long shadows. There is something humbling about standing here, where the landscape tells a story far older than our own.

Good to know: about half an hour south of Bridgeport, by Lee Vining. Start at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, then walk the easy one-mile South Tufa trail.

Yosemite National Park

Beyond the high country of the Eastern Sierra lies one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the American West. Yosemite is famous for its towering granite walls, waterfalls, ancient sequoias, and sweeping meadows, but its deeper beauty lies in the immense scale of time written into its cliffs and valleys. Indigenous peoples, including the Ahwahneechee, have longstanding connections to Yosemite Valley and the surrounding lands, long before the park became a celebrated destination. In 1864, the Yosemite Grant helped establish a new idea of protecting remarkable landscapes for public enjoyment, paving the way for the national park that followed. Whether you explore the iconic valley or the quieter alpine country near Tioga Pass, Yosemite rewards those who look beyond the famous views and take time to listen to the land.

Tioga Pass

Tioga Pass is more than a spectacular mountain crossing; it is a journey through the high, wild heart of the Sierra Nevada. At nearly 10,000 feet, Highway 120 winds past granite domes, alpine lakes, and open meadows where the landscape feels vast and untouched. Long before the road carried visitors between the Eastern Sierra and Yosemite, Indigenous peoples traveled through and lived across these mountain landscapes, following seasonal routes and sustaining deep connections to the land. Today, the pass offers one of California’s most beautiful drives, with countless reasons to pull over and explore. The road is generally seasonal, closing in winter when snow blankets the high country. When it opens again, the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.

Good to know: check the park road status before you go; Tioga Road usually opens between late May and June.

Helpful links

Roads & seasons

Yosemite road conditions – Tioga Road status, chains, closures

Tioga Road opening and closing dates – past years, to guess this year

Caltrans QuickMap – live Highway 395 and 270 conditions

Parks & public lands

Bodie State Historic Park – hours, fees, road notes

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve – South Tufa, boardwalk, ranger walks

Mono Lake Committee visitor guide – tours, birding, the Lee Vining bookstore

Bridgeport Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: 760-932-7070 – Twin Lakes, Buckeye, Virginia Lakes, camping

BLM Bishop Field Office: 760-872-5000 – Travertine Hot Springs and closures

Local life & the arts

Mono County Tourism – events, fishing reports, trip ideas

Bridgeport Visitor Center – on Emigrant St. next to the town park, (760) 932-7500

Mono Arts Council – gallery of 70+ local artists, classes, festivals (based in Mammoth Lakes)