Prior to launching Inked with Wanderlust, one of the first articles I wrote as part of the first batch was, “7 Things You Will Love About Bridgeport”. At the time, everybody else was doing top ten lists so I figured we would be different by doing lists of seven. It eventually went on to become one of our most read articles. Thank you for that.

So we started to think about all the other communities along highway 395 that could be featured in a post like this and decided to turn, “7 Things”, into a series. There’s plenty to love about dozens of towns throughout the state but we decided that the first follow up would be dedicated to Lee Vining.

If you’re unfamiliar with it, Lee Vining is a small town with a population of just 98 (as of 2019). It sits just 21-miles southeast of Bridgeport and is the gateway town to Yosemite National Park’s east side. In the winter, with that part of Yosemite being closed, not much is going on here. Once summer gets into full swing, though, the population and energy increases significantly.

With its proximity to Yosemite, multiple hiking trails, Mono Lake, hotels, great restaurants, and more, Lee Vining has something for any person, couple, or family who love the outdoors. So read on while we show you the 7 things you will love about Lee Vining.

1) Proximity to Yosemite’s East Side

I like to consider the eastern side of Yosemite to be the hikers side. While there’s many beautiful trails in the valley, the east side boasts, in my opinion, the best ones. Cloud’s Rest, Cathedral Lakes, North Dome, Mono Pass, and Glen Aulin are just a few of the highlights. Plus, from the gate, the valley is only an hour or so away.

Luckily for anyone staying in Lee Vining, all of this is just a quick 20 minute drive up Tioga Pass to the gate. There are no other towns that have direct access to this side of the park so if your intention is to spend a few days here, then staying in Lee Vining is a no-brainer.

2) June Lake Loop

Many of you are probably familiar with June Lake as it’s one of the most popular lakes for fishing in the area. What a lot of people may not realize is that in addition to that, this area also features one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever take. Called the, “June Lake Loop”, this beautiful drive is 16-miles and features four incredible lakes in that time.

Additionally, you could drive to Convict Lake (making it five lakes) as it’s only another 25 miles from June Lake. The official beginning of the drive is only a few miles south of Lee Vining on 395 making it an easy day outing. The first lake you’ll see is Grant Lake, followed by Silver Lake, Gull Lake, and finally June Lake capping it off.

3) Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

One visit to Mono Lake will make you feel like you’re walking on an alien planet. There are many access points to the lake along the road but none are more popular than the state reserve. This area contains the largest concentration of tufas and is only a few bucks per person to visit.

Aside from being the gateway to Yosemite east, Mono Lake is what Lee Vining is most known for. Kayaking tours can be arranged (not through the reserve) and in some places throughout the lake, swimming is permitted. However, due to the saltiness of the lake, we advise you be 110% sure you have no cuts on your body. It WILL hurt.

4) The Upside Down House

Upside Down House in Lee Vining, California.

The Upside Down House is owned and operated by the Mono Basin Historical Society and is part of a collection of other attractions including the Old Schoolhouse Museum and an old boat that used to provide tours of Mono Lake. It was originally built as a roadside attraction in the 1950’s and has since been moved here in order to preserve it.

Admission is free, but they do appreciate donations as any money they get goes towards the preservation of these historical buildings. To find it, turn on Beaver Street (you’ll see “Mono Cone” on the corner) and then take a left on Mattly Ave. The Upside Down House will be on your left shortly after turning.

5) Whoa Nellie Deli

There are quite a few great, local restaurants in Lee Vining and we encourage you to try them all. However, our personal favorite and one we always recommend is Whoa Nellie Deli. It is located inside the Tioga Mart gas station and serves up great dishes such as delicious omelettes and burritos for breakfast to pizza, fish tacos, and baby-back ribs for lunch and dinner.

While the gas station operates year round, the mart and deli are open seasonally. Essentially, once Yosemite is close to reopening, they open and when it’s close to closing, they close. This is generally from May to October. Be sure to stop by to fill up both your gas tank and stomachs before heading up to the park.

6) Driving Tioga Pass

If your plan is to visit Yosemite, then driving Tioga Pass is already built into the trip. However, even if you don’t plan on going to park, driving this pass is still worth it. It is the highest drivable pass in the state and features a few beautiful lakes and amazing views.

The lakes you will see are Lake Ellery, Tioga Lake, and Saddlebag Lake. There’s also a short interpretive trail called, “Nanutak Loop”, that shows examples of how volcanic activity and glaciers carved out this massive mountain pass and Yosemite itself. If that isn’t enough, there’s numerous pullouts along the road you could use to take in the views (such as the one in the image above).

7) A Variety of Hiking Trails

Twenty Lakes Basin loop located near Sanddlebag Lake and Yosemite.

There are many hiking trails located near Lee Vining. A couple well known ones being Panum Crater, Lundy Canyon, and Virginia Lakes (all amazing). My personal favorite, however, is Twenty Lakes Basin Loop. The trailhead begins at Saddlebag Lake just over the border of Yosemite. I like to refer to it as, “Yosemite without the crowds”.

No matter which one you choose to do, you won’t be disappointed. There are trails ranging from family friendly all the way to difficult, mountain summits. It just depends on your skill, experience, and comfort level. There’s something for everyone here.

BONUS! It’s Proximity to Bodie

Much like in our Bridgeport post, we decided to spoil you with a bonus. While we listed Bodie as something you will love about Bridgeport (since it’s so close), Bodie is also very close to Lee Vining as well. In fact, it’s almost perfectly situated in between both towns.

From the center of Lee Vining to Bodie’s entrance, it’s 45 miles. That’s an easy day trip. So if Bodie was a big part of your plan to visit the area but you also want to be close to Yosemite, staying in Lee Vining would be the perfect compromise. Head north on highway 395 for 20 miles and turn right at the sign. You can’t miss it.

Conclusion

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You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above. Thank you and safe travels!

If you haven’t read the first entrant in this series yet, you can so here.

7 Things You Will Love About Lee Vining