Young rhyolite plug-dome volcano on the south shore of Mono Lake, formed only a few hundred years ago. A short trail climbs the pumice ring and plugs for close views of obsidian and pumice flows with Mono Lake and the Sierra crest as backdrop—one of the clearest roadside volcanic classrooms on the US-395 desert edge.
Field facts
| Region | Mono County, CA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37.9297, -119.0446 |
| Access | Signed dirt spur from CA-120 east of US-395 / south of Lee Vining; short hike into crater |
| Managing agency | USFS / Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area context |
| GNIS | feature_id 264493 Crater, Mono |
| Feature class | Rhyolite plug dome / pumice ring |
Nearby locations
Nearby amenities
- CampgroundOH RIDGE14.9 km away
- CampgroundJUNE LAKE16.6 km away
- CampgroundGULL LAKE CAMPGROUND17.8 km away
- CampgroundSilver Lake Campground June Lake (CA)17.8 km away
- CampgroundREVERSED CREEK CAMPGROUND17.9 km away
Public recreation data — BLM & Recreation.gov (RIDB). Verify current access, fees, and seasonal closures before traveling.
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