Local Attractions

 Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest: This national forest area is in the peaks of the White mountains, across the valley from the Sierra Nevadas. Driving about an hour or so from June Lake on a paved if somewhat windy road, the Sierra Nevada overlook provides a great view of the Sierras. Schulman Grove has a visitors' center and a couple of short hikes (1-4 miles) through some of the world's oldest living beings (trees over 4000 years old)! For the more adventurous, Patriarch Grove features the world's largest bristlecone pine in the world, but you have to drive an hour along a dirt road to get there.

 Devil's Postpile National Monument: Devil's Postpile features an amazing rock formation, with hexagonal columns of rocks sticking up out of the forest. You can walk beneath and on top of them on a short hike along a trail in the monument. Also nearby are Rainbow Falls, a large, beautiful waterfall also an easy hike from the road. The national monument has a full suite of services including buses, bathrooms, and even paved (or mostly paved) trails. Visiting the sites here is easy and accessible no matter what your adventure threshold is. The monument is in Mammoth Lakes, about 20/30 minutes from June Lake.

 June Lake Loop: Winding around a series of lakes and mountain peaks, the June Lake loop is a great way to see some of the spectacular Easter Sierra scenery from you car. In the fall, it's especially worthwhile to see all of the aspens changing color. Although the southern entrance is closer to Mammoth on the highway, it's worth driving in from the northern entrance during the day, as the views going that direction are better. You'll be driving this loop one way or the other since our wedding venue is located on this road.

 Mono Lake: One of the largest and saltiest lakes in California, Mono Lake is the source of a significant percentage of Los Angeles' water. Almost drained dry in the 70s, Mono lake is now protected from overuse and the water level will eventually rise back to its previous height. Once it does, it will cover up the Tufas, rock structures formed under the water which are currently jutting out of the lake along the shoreline. The lake is only a 20 minute drive north of June Lake and offers short hikes (< 2 miles) around interesting geological formations and sweeping vistas. Around the lake you can also find short hikes to the top of a volcanic crater made of obsidian, ghost towns, and good birdwatching spots.

 Yosemite National Park: One of, if not the most famous of all the national parks, Yosemite has mountains, valleys, trees, animals, and tons more. Accessible through most of October, some of the high peaks and pass roads are covered in snow later in the month. Worth spending time here in any season. The eastern entrance to Yosemite is actually about a 20 minute drive north of June Lake through the spectacular Tioga Pass. The drive to the famous Yosemite Valley is another 6 hours beyond that, but is a worthwhile road trip for those inclined to make a vacation of it! (Also a short detour from a route to or from a flight out of San Francisco or Sacramento).

 Death Valley National Park: Despite its name, Death Vally has a lot of interesting things to see- it also has the honor of being the hottest place on earth, and the lowest/driest point in North America. The park has sand dunes, salt flats, and volcanic craters. Miles of trails run through the park with ghost towns and abandoned mines dotting the landscape. There's even an airport, a golf course, and a castle in the park. This is the kind of park where you really want a car and, if you are visiting for more than a day, it would be well worth getting a 4-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicle to abuse. The park is 3.5 hours from June Lake and probably best seen on the way to or from a flight out of Las Vegas.