Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain are the two most visited locations in the Eastern Sierras each year with over One Million visitors. And for good reason. Surrounded by alpine beauty and majesty, the powdered peaks of the June Lake and Mammoth Mountain Ski Areas draw tens of thousands of skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and ice skaters every winter.
The June Lake Loop offers both fun and challenging mountain biking for riders of all ages. Whether you like riding single-track routes through the forest on mountain trails or the smooth asphalt roads with minimal traffic and awe-inspiring views of alpine lakes, streams and waterfalls, the June Lake Loop is a cycling paradise.
Yosemite Valley is a 1.5 hour drive from Lee Vining, and well worth the trip. Several of the world’s tallest waterfalls drop into this deep, glacier-carved, u-shaped valley. The massive monoliths Half Dome, El Capitan and Sentinel Rock are among many impressive geologic features of Yosemite Valley. Photographs of these wonders by Ansel Adams popularized Yosemite and helped establish landscape photography as an art form. Visit https://www.nps.gov for more info.
California State Route 158 loops away from U.S. Highway 395 for 16 miles, then returns. It follows a horseshoe shaped canyon containing four lakes and several rushing streams surrounded by a dramatic mountainous backdrop. Within this canyon exists a full-serviced community, available to vacationers in all four seasons of the year. June Lake offers full accommodations, skiing, fishing, general store and a number of eateries and other establishments.
Located directly across the street from The Villager Motel, the Tiger Bar & Cafe offers a complete down home dining experience. Offering breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or just drinking with your buddies, they pride themselves on providing great food and service. In fact, many generations of June Lake locals, past residents and visitors make the Tiger Bar their first stop when coming into the June Lake Loop.
Great home-style breakfasts are a long-standard tradition at the Loop’s original resort established in 1916. Hearty omelettes, pancakes, and the biscuit gravy recipe make this place a classic June Lake Loop experience. Lunchtime brings the famous fresh burgers and sandwiches, or perhaps a bowl of chili. There may be a wait for a breakfast table, but well worth it.