Mono–Inyo Craters
Mono–Inyo Craters are a series of high-elevation volcanic domes and maars across eastern California and northwestern Nevada, near Mono Lake and Owens River. Explore their rugged, rhyolite and basalt flows, crater lakes, and strenuous trails — a showcase of Lassen–Type volcanic landforms outside the Cascades.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | California and Nevada |
| County | Mono County, CAInyo County, CAInyo County, NV |
| District | Mono–Inyo Craters |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 37.6 |
| Longitude | -118.8 |
| Maps |
11:51 AM LOCAL TIMEMono–Inyo Craters are a dispersed volcanic complex spanning roughly 200 square kilometers across the border of California and Nevada, northeast of Mono Lake and east of the Sierra Nevada. The craters are primarily rhyolite and basalt cones, maars, and tuff rings formed in late Pleistocene to Holocene time, with prominent features like Negit and Mono Lake originating from complex interactions of magmatic and surface waters. Access is through high-elevation trailheads and dirt roads; popular routes include hikes to Mono Crater and Mono Lake overlook, though many of the smaller domes and maars are best suited for experienced off-trail navigation. The landscape is characterized by stark volcanic deposits, seasonal snowpack, and remote settings — suitable for day trips, backcountry skiing in winter, and geological exploration. Several visitor-managed sites and trailheads provide parking and interpretive signage, but much of the area is backcountry and requires careful route planning and respect for high-elevation conditions and fragile volcanic landforms.
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