Mono County

The Chemung gold mine over looking the Bridgeport Valley on in Mono County 4x4 Trails. Photograph by James L Rathbun
The Chemung gold mine overlooking the Bridgeport Valley on Mono County 4×4 Trails. Photograph by James L Rathbun

Mono County 4×4 trails offer the explorer the ultimate in camping, scenery, history, animal life and outdoor activity. Mono County was formed in 1861 and was named after a large salt water lake of the same name. The lake was named for the Native America Mono people who lived in the between Mono Lake and the Owens Lake the south. The Mono people where known as the monachie or “fly people” because they used fly larvae as their food staple. Mono Lake has a very high saline level and offers no fishing or boating. For the adventurous, you can gain access to swim at Navy Beach along the southern shore. The unique part of swimming in Mono Lake is the high saline levels make floating an unique experience. Very cold!

Mono County and its High Sierra lake country are popular fishing spots for anglers. Mammoth Mountain, June Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir are the most popular of these destinations. The local history of mining cause many town to be founded and later abandoned for a variety of reasons. The various Mono County back roads offer access to these lost destinations of history.

Mono County is a sparsely populated area with only 14,000 some people living within the county in 2010.

Bodie

The Standard Mill, Bodie, CA. Photograph by James L Rathbun
The Standard Mill, Bodie, CA. Photograph by James L Rathbun

Bodie is a California State Historic Park and the official California gold rush town. This town passed into history and preserved in a state of “Arrested Decay” as it was in the 1960’s. The ghost town of Bodie is an extremely popular destination of for those of us with four wheel drive offers a gateway to many mine sites and ghost towns.

Mono County Trial map

Mono County 4×4 Trails

Mono County Point of Interests

Bodie Railway and Lumber Company Locomotive. Photo courtesy of McDonnell sisters.

Bodie and Benton Railway

The Bodie and Benton Railway operated for about thirty eights years, supplying the town of Bodie, California. The narrow gauge railroad travelled north, from the…
The Standard Mill, Bodie, CA. Photograph by James L Rathbun

Bodie California – Mono County Ghost Town

Bodie, California is the ghost town by which all others are judged.  Located at 8300 in the Bodie Hills above Mono Lake, Bodie is the…
The Chemung Mine located just outside of Bridgeport, CA. Photograph by James L Rathbun

Chemung Mine

Located off the Masonic Road between Bridgeport, CA and the Masonic town site, are the remains of the Chemung gold mine.  The Chemung gold mine…
Another beautiful day at Convict Lake, in the High Sierra Mountains - Photo by James L Rathbun

Convict Lake

Convict Lake is located on the east side High Sierra Mountains in Mono County, California below Mount Morrison (12,241 ft). The serene lake is nestled…
Hot Creek located off the 395 highway near Mammoth in Mono County, California - Photo by James L Rathbun

Hot Creek Geologic Site

Hot Creek Geologic Site is located near Mammoth, Lake just off the 395 Highway in Mono County, California. The stream originates from Twin Lakes in…
Mill site from the middle section of Masonic, California. Photograph by James L Rathbun

Masonic California – Mono County Ghost Town

Originally known as Lorena, Masonic California is a ghost town located in the mountains north east of Bridgeport, California.  Masonic was founded in 1860 by…
Success Mine, Bridgeport, CA

Success Mine

The Success Mine is an gold mine site located just off Masonic Road, the between McMillan Springs and the Chemung Mine in Mono County, CA.…

Mono County Campgrounds

Lake Mary, Mammoth Lakes, California - Photo by Paul Wight

Coldwater Campground

Coldwater Campground is a campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area of the High Sierra in Mono County, California. Lake Mary is the largest and…
A deer walking the road into Convict Lake Campground - Photo by James L Rathbun

Convict Lake Campground

Convict Lake Campground is a wonderful location to camp in the amazing High Sierra Mountain near Convict Lake in Mono County, California. The campground is…
His first Rainbow Trout caught in under five minutes proves my superior fishing technique.

French Camp Campground

Camping in the High Sierras is not as easy as it once was, however this fact offers one the ability to explore and remove oneself…

Grant Lake Campground

Grant Lake Campground, June Lake loop, Mono County, California Grant Lake Campground and marina is the northern most campground of the June Lake Loop located…

Gull Lake Campground

Gull Lake Campground is a small, shaded and private campground in the June Lake Loop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gull lake is just over…

June Lake Campground

June Lake Campground is nestled next to June Lake In the Sierra Nevada of California and the scenery of the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The Campground…

Lake George Campground

Lake George Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area, above Lake Mary in the High Sierra in Mono County, California. Lake…
Lake Mary, Mammoth Lakes, California - Photo by Paul Wight

Lake Mary Campground

Lake Mary Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area of the High Sierra in Mono County, California. Lake Mary is the…

Oh! Ridge Campground

Oh! Ridge Campground is the first campground in the June Lake Loop located in the Eastern High Sierra in Mono County, California. The campgrounds is…

Silver Lake Campground

June Lake Loop, Mono County, California Silver Lake Campground is nestled next to Silver Lake In the Sierra Nevada of California and the scenery of…
Twin Lakes, Mammoth Lakes, California. Photo by Paul Wight

Twin Lakes Campground

Twin Lakes Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area of the High Sierra in Mono County, California. The campground offers views…

References