Updated April 28, 2026

As we shift from winter to spring in Mono County, it’s not always clear what roads, activities, and attractions are open or not. Conditions can change quickly in the mountains and as such, we will update this blog periodically this spring to help you best navigate your visit, so please check back often!

Scroll through for important information regarding golden mussel prevention efforts, Yosemite National Park, Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile as well as current conditions of roads and lakes. 

For questions and updates on activities not included here, or anything else, please call us at (800) 845-7922 (Monday through Friday 8am-5pm) or email tourism@mono.ca.gov. Finally, be sure to follow Mono County Tourism on Facebook and Instagram for the pictures of current conditions and road reopening announcements.

Lakes 

• California Department of Fish & Wildlife (regulations, information, license sales, etc.)
• Webcams throughout Mono County 
• Fishing derbies and events
• Invasive Species Alert: Help Prevent the Spread of Golden Mussels

Rock Creek Lake 

• Rock Creek Road is open
• Lake is ice-free

Crowley Lake

• Ice-free
• For more information, please visit Crowley Lake Fish Camp’s website.

Convict Lake

• Ice-free

Hot Creek

• Open year-round for fishing (regulations) 
• Hot Creek Geological Site 

Mammoth Lakes Basin: Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Lake George, Twin Lakes 

• Twin Lakes Mamie, Mary, and George are mostly ice-free.
• The road to the Mammoth Lakes Basin is open to pedestrians and bicyclists. Waiting for confirmation on opening date for vehicle access.

June Lake Loop: June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake

• June Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake and Gull Lake - Ice-free
• Please note: Parker Lake has new regulations. Open to year-round angling, two fish bag limit, 14-inch minimum size limit, and an artificial lures only gear restriction. 

Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake, Saddlebag Lake 

• Ellery and Tioga are mainly ice with a few pockets of water showing. Saddlebag Lake Road is still closed but would safely assume this lake is mainly ice.

Lundy Lake

• Ice Free

Upper & Lower Virginia Lakes

• Ice remains on both lakes

Upper & Lower Twin Lakes – Bridgeport

• Both lakes are ice-free

Bridgeport Reservoir

• Ice-free

Campgrounds

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Campgrounds:

Inyo National Forest Campgrounds - information should be updated here soon. 

Recent post on 4.21.26 from the Inyo National Forest: 

Hello campers. Great news. Below is a list of campgrounds that are open now or will be open by Friday, April 24. We are working to update our website with their current status so please Know Before You Go.

Mono Lake Ranger District:

- Lower Lee Vining

- Gull Lake Campground

- June Lake Campground

- Oh Ridge Campground

- Silver Lake Campground

- Big Springs Campground

- Glass Creek Campground

Mammoth Ranger District:

- Old Shady Rest Campground

- Convict Lake Campground

Road Conditions

These are general road conditions; mostly an update for roads that close seasonally during the winter due to snow. Please always check weather and road conditions before travel to Mono County as things can change quickly and at any time of the year!

Caltrans Road Information - check state highway road conditions using the numbers below. 

• Highway 270 to Bodie State Historic Park: OPEN
• Tioga Pass (120 W) (from US 395 to East Entrance of Yosemite National Park): CLOSED due to inclement weather. Roadway will be reassessed for reopening following the storm.
  ​For updates on Tioga Road (120 W through Yosemite National Park), please visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm. 
• SR 89 Monitor Pass: OPEN
• SR 108 Sonora Pass: CLOSED
• SR 158 N (June Lake Loop): OPEN
  Please note that with early season openings, there is a possibility of late season snow storms that could prohibit travel.
• Highway 120 E (Mono Mills): CLOSED
• Highway 203 to Minaret Vista: CLOSED
• Highway 167: OPEN (Nevada Road Conditions)
• Highway 6: OPEN (Nevada Road Conditions)
• Highway 182: CLOSED (Nevada Road Conditions)
• Lake Mary Road and roads within the Mammoth Lakes Basin: the road to the Mammoth Lakes Basin is open to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
• Mono County Roads: Please visit monocounty.ca.gov/roads/page/county-road-closures for information on County roads including Benton Crossing Road, Upper and Lower Rock Creek Road, Virginia Lakes Road, Lundy Lake Road, Saddlebag Lake Road, Buckeye Road. 

Important Updates for Summer 2026

Yosemite National Park - No Reservation System 

As of February 18, 2026, Yosemite National Park has announced that it will no longer use a vehicle reservation system in 2026. Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm

Visitors are encouraged to purchase their park entrance in advance of arriving to the entrance gate. Please go to Recreation.gov or if you use the recreation.gov app, search Yosemite National Park and click on buy pass. Purchasing the entrance fee in advance helps everyone move faster through the entrance gate, but make sure you still stop and get a map of the park at the entrance gate on your way in.

Visitors traveling in 2026 are encouraged to:

• Plan visits early, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
• Consider weekday trips for lower congestion and greater parking availability.
• Explore options for hiking, sightseeing and recreation outside Yosemite Valley.
• Check the park website for real-time conditions, seasonal updates and trip-planning tools

New Fishing Regulations for Parker Lake

Anglers are always urged to prioritize staying informed about the most current regulations. Do not rely on printed materials that may include outdated information as regulations change. Please verify all regulations by visiting the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website: wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations or by calling the Bishop CDFW office at 760-872-1171.

In 2025, several changes have been implemented, notably at Parker Lake:

• Parker Lake New Regulations:
  • Reduced bag limit: 2 fish.
  • Minimum size: 14 inches.
  • Artificial lures only (no bait).

These changes have been implemented to protect the Heritage Wild Trout population, as recent surveys indicate a decline in both Brook and Brown Trout numbers due to increased angling pressure.

Reds Meadow Road Reconstruction Project

Reds Meadow Road access in 2026 will be limited and subject to change due to ongoing construction.

Reds Meadow Road is being reconstructed to greatly improve public access and traffic safety for all who visit the area, reduce likelihood of vehicular accidents, and improve emergency response times. The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service (Devils Postpile National Monument) appreciates your patience and understanding as the contractor works to reconstruct the road and stabilize the hillside.

Visitors should plan ahead as the road is closed to ALL traffic; pedestrian, E-bikes, bicycles, and vehicles.

A mandatory ESTA Shuttle Bus use is still required throughout the 2026 peak season.  Board the bus at the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge.

For the most up-to-date information on road access, shuttle operations, and trip planning, please visit: Inyo National Forest Reds Meadow Road Reconstruction Project page.