We are planning a trip to the Eastern Sierra for the Memorial Day weekend. (Ordinarily, I would not travel during a holiday, but there is supposed to be a meteor shower that weekend.) We are hoping to be in the high country, but who knows if the snow will melt in time?So I am looking for other options, just in case. I have spent a fair amount of time on Google Earth and with my topo programs, looking at the area south and east of Mono Lake. On paper, it looks fine -- around 7000 feet (so not too hot during the day and not too cold at night). The night sky is dark, with a good view toward the north (where the meteors will be on the night of May 23-24). And I can see lots of boondocking spots, where other folks have camped over the years. But what I can't figure out is whether the forest roads in that area are too sandy for towing my trailer. There are craters and pumice quarries in the area -- not a good sign! The roads look ok for a jeep with balloon tires, but maybe not for a trailer with normal highway tires? (I know for sure that my truck, by itself, can handle some sand -- we went off road in Death Valley in the Marble Canyon area, which is permitted, and we had no trouble.) Does anyone know if this is a "trailerable" area?The other question is bugs -- I have read that the area right around the lake is infested with "no see ums" at various times of the year. Is that all year? How far from the lake do you have to be to get away from the bugs?Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

I've been on some of those roads. Most that I've driven were either washboarded or sandy, with few places to pass or turn around. I try to visit such places on T-W-Th to minimize the possibility of oncoming traffic. Take a look at the BLM Booklet "Motor Touring in the Eastern Sierra, Mono County". Click on the photo of the cover; booklet opens on screen and is downloadble. You can also request a paper copy. Perhaps some ideas there? I especially enjoyed Crooked Meadow Road last September. You could easily take a trailer there, but it would undoubtedly be busy on Memorial Day. Also, you can camp in the Mono Basin; see page two of this linked document under Dispersed Camping and Permits.As to bugs, I have not visited this area so early in the season, have not experienced any no-seeums.Have a great trip!

Last July I boondocked E of Mono Lake, down a sandy 2-track, with my AWD Highlander and 2700 lb TT. No problems with getting around. The only bugs that came even close to being a nuisance were the ants.

There will be a few of us camped on the Little Walker that weekend. We're only about an hour north. Come on by for a Margarita. We'll be hitting Masonic and the Log Cabin Mine this trip. Also assaulting Mt Patterson if snow permits. You'd be welcome to join us if you desire.

Bob, thanks for the invitation!! And Tiger, that was a terrific link -- I can't believe I had never seen those publications. Many of those 4X4 routes are suitable for boondocking, all throughout the Owens Valley. Rex, that's good news about the 2-track -- I will probably unhitch the trailer, scout with the truck, and come back and get the trailer when I have found a site that is not too sandy.I also read somewhere that in May and June, the lupines bloom all around the lake -- they grow in soft pumice.

Profdan,Just make sure you have a way to re-inflate low pressure tires (on both the tow rig and the trailer) and you'll be fine. A CO2 tank or a 12v high volume compressor that connects to the battery. I've had bad luck with the China Freight air comprssors. Time to spring for a good 12v. air compressor.If you read our TR about the Mojave Road (which i think you would do fine on with lower pressure) you'll notice the little blue trailer with about 500 pounds in it had nine pounds of air in the tires.I've been on many of the trails you inquire about and don't see a problem for you.Have you got that winch on the front yet? Hm?After your announcement of the meteor shower time, we too are planning on being in western Nevada during that time to see the show in a very, very dark quadrant.regards, as always, jefe

Boondocking south & east of Mono Lake: sandy? buggy?

18 Replies

mrw8i
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
You can get some very detailed maps of the Forest Service Roads at the Ranger Station in Mammoth Lakes. They are printed on newsprint, so they don't last long, but they are detailed and free. I don't know if they are topo, so you might not see steep elevation changes in the roads. That whole area is pumice, not always deep pumice but dusty. Do not drive to Mono Lake shore unless you are on the main road to see the Tufa at the State Park; the roads around the lake can be feets thick loose sand from the old Mono Lake shore - which takes a modified off road vehicle to maneuver.
nvreloader
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
Profdant 139

Try the Black Rock desert/playa or the Bluewing playa that is about 15-20 miles Southeast of the BR Playa.

I know the Bluewing is darker than the inside of a cow, spent many a night out there.

Tia,
Don
profdant139
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2014
Jefe, I also tried one of the Harbor Fright compressors, and it burned out the second time I used it -- thank goodness I had a high capacity manual bike pump! No kidding -- it really worked, albeit very slowly. And we are planning to test out our new winch setup this afternoon.

Having said all of that, there is no way I am going out to the far places you TC folks go. Even if I do not get stuck, it takes me much longer -- you bounce along at 30 or 40, and we crawl at 10 or 15 mph. The suspension on the trailer is just not designed for rock hopping or washboard surfing -- the impact on the components is magnified at higher speeds.

Without being too precise, roughly where in Western Nevada are you going? We are looking for fallback options in case the Eastern Sierra is cloudy. I thought about the Toquima area, north of Tonopah -- a long drive, but very dark skies.
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Profdan,
Just make sure you have a way to re-inflate low pressure tires (on both the tow rig and the trailer) and you'll be fine. A CO2 tank or a 12v high volume compressor that connects to the battery. I've had bad luck with the China Freight air comprssors. Time to spring for a good 12v. air compressor.
If you read our TR about the Mojave Road (which i think you would do fine on with lower pressure) you'll notice the little blue trailer with about 500 pounds in it had nine pounds of air in the tires.
I've been on many of the trails you inquire about and don't see a problem for you.
Have you got that winch on the front yet? Hm?
After your announcement of the meteor shower time, we too are planning on being in western Nevada during that time to see the show in a very, very dark quadrant.
regards, as always, jefe
profdant139
Explorer II
Apr 11, 2014
Bob, thanks for the invitation!! And Tiger, that was a terrific link -- I can't believe I had never seen those publications. Many of those 4X4 routes are suitable for boondocking, all throughout the Owens Valley. Rex, that's good news about the 2-track -- I will probably unhitch the trailer, scout with the truck, and come back and get the trailer when I have found a site that is not too sandy.

I also read somewhere that in May and June, the lupines bloom all around the lake -- they grow in soft pumice.
reasley
Explorer
Apr 11, 2014
There will be a few of us camped on the Little Walker that weekend. We're only about an hour north. Come on by for a Margarita.

We'll be hitting Masonic and the Log Cabin Mine this trip. Also assaulting Mt Patterson if snow permits. You'd be welcome to join us if you desire.
rexlion
Explorer
Apr 11, 2014
Last July I boondocked E of Mono Lake, down a sandy 2-track, with my AWD Highlander and 2700 lb TT. No problems with getting around. The only bugs that came even close to being a nuisance were the ants.
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Apr 10, 2014
I've been on some of those roads. Most that I've driven were either washboarded or sandy, with few places to pass or turn around. I try to visit such places on T-W-Th to minimize the possibility of oncoming traffic.

Take a look at the BLM Booklet "Motor Touring in the Eastern Sierra, Mono County". Click on the photo of the cover; booklet opens on screen and is downloadble. You can also request a paper copy. Perhaps some ideas there? I especially enjoyed Crooked Meadow Road last September. You could easily take a trailer there, but it would undoubtedly be busy on Memorial Day.

Also, you can camp in the Mono Basin; see page two of this linked document under Dispersed Camping and Permits.

As to bugs, I have not visited this area so early in the season, have not experienced any no-seeums.

Have a great trip!

Forum Discussion

Boondocking south & east of Mono Lake: sandy? buggy?

18 Replies

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