Picture Perfect
by Kim Purcell
July 30, 2007
Often referred to as "The Switzerland of the Sierra," June Lake, Calif., is a unique, high-country
experience for family adventurers. Tucked away in the Central Eastern Sierra region three hours
south of Lake Tahoe, Nev., and 90 miles east of Yosemite National Park, June Lake has
picture-perfect vistas - glacier peaks, cascading waterfalls, abundant streams and lakes - with
views so spectacular they were famously photographed by world-renowned landscape photographer Ansel
Adams, who brilliantly captured the essence of this naturally wondrous area.
The June Lake Loop consists of four lakes - June, Silver, Gull and Grant - each offering
opportunities in the summertime for trout fishing, boating, and waterskiing. The area is a natural
playground for outdoor enthusiasts, who can take to the parks and trails for mountain biking,
hiking or rock climbing.
Wintertime offers skiing and snowboarding at nearby June Mountain, as well as snowmobiling on
75,000 acres of open terrain and snow-ridden paths. A welcome stop in the heart of the Eastern
Sierras, June Lake is a year-round family retreat that's made of lasting memories.
MARINAS
•
Gull Lake Marina. Located adjacent to Gull Lake Park, the Gull Lake Marina
features a newly renovated, full tackle shop that carries handcrafted gifts, Gull Lake apparel,
fishing licenses, a wide range of bait and tackle, and food and beverages. Families can enjoy
lunchtime in the glass-enclosed, lakeside deck with picnic tables and rocking chairs, with a nearby
trout pond for feeding fish. The marina offers a complimentary fish station for cleaning fish,
deluxe fishing pontoons and flat-bottom boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats for rent. (760)
648-7539,
www.gulllakemarina.com.
•
Big Rock Marina. Situated at Big Rock Resort in the heart of Inyo National Forest
- founded by Teddy Roosevelt and celebrating its centennial anniversary this year - this
boat-launching facility is open during the summer from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features boats and
slips available for rent, including a 14-foot V-hull, 16-foot barge, paddleboats and kayaks. The
tackle/gift shop sells fishing poles, reels, bait, snacks, drinks, ice, luxury blankets and other
items. (800) 769-9831,
www.bigrockresort.net.
ACCOMMODATIONS
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Double Eagle Resort and Spa. Sitting high in the Eastern Sierras at the base of
Carson Peak and Horsetail Falls, this four-season resort and spa features luxury rooms and suites
dispersed throughout 13 acres of rushing streams and towering pines. Onsite amenities include the
resort's signature Creekside Spa and Fitness Center, a heated indoor pool and fly fishing on Ron's
Pond. The two-bedroom cabins have fully equipped kitchens, spacious decks with outside patio
furnishings and permanent barbecues. Wood-burning fireplaces or stoves add to the ambiance of this
rustic setting. (760) 648-7004,
www.doubleeagle.com.
•
Big Rock Resort. Situated on 2.4 acres in Inyo National Forest, this year-round
retreat has lakefront cabins, a marina with boat and slip rentals, and a private beach area for
guests in the summer. In the winter months, guests can cozy up in a choice of one- to three-bedroom
cabins with master suites within walking distance to June Lake Village and only 1.5 miles from June
Mountain. (760) 648-7717,
www.bigrockresort.net.
•
Silver Lake Resort. The oldest "trout fishing retreat" in the Eastern Sierra, this
fishing hot spot was established in 1916 by Roy Carson, who set up "Carson Camp" on Silver Lake -
named for the silver reflection of the water on overcast days - as a regular place to go trout
fishing with his Pasadena buddies. Located at the bottom of Carson Peak at Silver Lake, this summer
resort features an old-fashioned general store, gift shop, cafe, cabin rentals, RV park, trout
fishing, boat rentals and launching. (760) 648-7525,
www.silverlakeresort.net.
RESTAURANTS
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Eagle's Landing Restaurant. This casual upscale restaurant at the Eagle's Landing
Resort offers guests scenic views of mountains and waterfalls, with a spacious outdoor deck during
the summer season. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the "Landing" features popular
specialty entrees such as herb-roasted rotisserie chicken, macadamia-crusted halibut, baby-back
ribs, and Kobe-beef burgers. For boating families on the go, take-out foods, picnic baskets or box
lunches are also available. (760) 648-7004,
www.doubleeagle.com.
•
Alpine Delicatessen. This long-time established deli and pizza shop located in
June Lake Village in downtown June Lake serves hot and cold sandwiches, pizza, soft-serve ice cream
and beverages, and has an onsite ice machine for refilling onboard coolers. Accessible to June
Mountain and surrounding resorts, lakes and marinas, this family-friendly eatery is a centrally
located must-stop between boating activities. (760) 648-7633,
www.junelakeloop.com/alpinedeli/.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
•
Fishing. June Lake's four lakes - June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake and Grant Lake
- are well known as the ultimate locations for catching any number of trophy-sized rainbow, brook,
cutthroat and brown trout. The loop and surrounding canyons offer abundant lakes, rivers and
streams for popular fishing activities, including bait fishing from the shore, offshore fishing
from a float tube or boat, or fly fishing along the lakes and creeks. Local fishing hot spots
include Walker Lake, Parker Lake, Reverse Creek and Rush Creek.
•
Kayaking. With its many lakes, streams and attractions in the area, the Eastern
Sierra region makes for the ultimate kayaking experience. Guided kayak tours are offered at Mono
Lake, giving adventurers the unique experience of paddling through tufa formations on one of the
oldest living lakes in existence. Kayak rentals are available at many surrounding marinas,
including nearby Crowley Lake Marina, which also sells kayaks, and offers rentals and lessons.
(760) 935-4301,
www.crowleylakefishcamp.com.
LANDMARKS
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Yosemite National Park. One of the first wilderness parks in the United States,
Yosemite National Park is nearly 1,200 square miles of natural beauty. Best known for its
waterfalls and giant sequoias, this vast wilderness is also filled with deep valleys and grand
meadows, connected to the Eastern Sierras by one of the most scenic high-country roads in the
world. The hour-and-a-half trip west through Tioga Pass to Yosemite Valley is well worth the drive,
with spectacular panoramas at Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows and surrounding historic communities.
(209) 372-0200,
www.nps.gov/yose/.
•
Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. Approximately 10 miles north of June Lake, Mono Lake
is an ancient, inland sea, filled with salt waters that sustain a unique biosphere where tiny brine
shrimp feed millions of migrating birds each year. Mono Lake has unusual shorelines with two
volcanic islands and formations called tufas, which are piled-up mineral deposits formed beneath
the water's surface when mineral-rich spring water mixes with salt water. The Forest Service offers
self-guided walking tours on the shoreline of Seal Beach, kayak and canoe tours, a visitor's center
and museum. (800) 777-0369,
www.parks.ca.gov/.
•
Bodie State Historic Park. Preserved in a state of "arrested decay," Bodie State
Historic Park is an original California gold-mining ghost town that has remained virtually
untouched, due to the preservation efforts of the California State Park system. Founded in the late
1800s by Waterman S. Body as a gold-mining town, this once thriving community had a growing
population of 10,000. Designated as a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park in 1962,
only a small portion of the town has survived, but the interiors of the buildings have remained
untouched and are still stocked with goods. Bodie is open year-round but only accessible by
over-snow equipment from October to May. (760) 647-6445,
www.parks.ca.gov/.
CULTURAL
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Eastern Sierra Troutstock. The premier fishing competition and festival in Mono
County, Troutstock is a Labor Day weekend celebration of all things trout. It features the Million
Dollar Derby, a fantastic opportunity for participants of all ages and surrounding communities to
compete for a million-dollar prize trout. The third-annual Troutstock Eastern Sierra 2007 includes
15 lakes, a kids fishing pond, trout cooking and casting demonstrations, kids fishing games, live
entertainment, artists' booths and $10,000 in guaranteed cash prizes. All events benefit the Hot
Creek Hatchery Foundation to support fish-stocking programs in California. (760) 934-2712,
www.troutstock.com; (760) 648-7334,
www.hotcreekhatcheryfoundation.org.
FAST FACTS
POPULATION:
600
WEATHER: June Lake's temperatures range from winter lows in the teens to highs in
the 70s and 80s in the summertime.
TRIVIA: The water at Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park is fed mostly by
snowmelt. Peak flow usually happens in late May, but by August, Yosemite Falls is often dry. It
begins flowing again a few months later, after the winter snows arrive.
HISTORY: Originally inhabited by the Paiute and Shoshone Native Americans, the
Eastern Sierra region was eventually settled by gold miners who arrived in the 19th century.
TOURIST INFO: For more information, visit
www.junelakechamber.org, or call (760)
648-7584.
