Lake houses in June Lake

Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in a picturesque horseshoe valley, June Lake is a mini-paradise. The lake itself is a placid spring-fed jewel ringed with conifers. There are three other lakes here — Gull, Silver, and Grant — and all four are beloved by anglers for their abundance of trout. The town enjoyed a ritzy heyday as a celebrity retreat in the 1930s, but keeps a lower profile now. June Lake serves as a restful gateway to the gems of the Eastern Sierras, including the Ansel Adams Wilderness Area, home to deep gorges and tall granite peaks; Inyo National Forest, with the oldest living trees in the world; and the many wonders of Yosemite National Park. In the summer visitors fish, hike, kayak, and go horseback riding here, and in the winter June Lake transforms into an Alpine paradise perfect for snow-shoeing, skiing, and snowboarding.

June Lake is most popular in the summer, when the town swells with visitors hoping to take advantage of the warm days for fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Fall means cooler temps, smaller crowds, and colorful foliage. Winter is another high season for staying in one of the area’s cabins, as vacationers amass on the snow-capped peaks for cold weather sports. The beginning of spring is often an extended ski season, although as things slowly warm up, it can be the perfect time to indulge in hot springs, such as Travertine in nearby Bridgeport.

June Lake Loop

Take a driving tour through the mountains on the June Lake Loop, a 16-mile stretch of road you can pick up in town that will carry you past four lakes, towering Carson Peak, and rustic villages where you can fuel up with a hearty meal. The loop also runs past an out-of-place roadside tombstone. This is the Grave of the Unknown Prospector, dedicated to “the pioneers of Mono County whose resting place is known only to God.”

Mono Lake

A short drive will transport you from a mountain retreat to the surface of an alien planet. Okay, not quite — but this more than 1-million-year-old, 65-square-mile lake is one of the strangest natural sites in California. Rising from its waters are otherworldly clusters of giant tufa (limestone) spires and knobs formed in part due to the lake’s high salt content — it’s more than twice as salty as the ocean. Mono Lake is home to trillions of tiny brine shrimp, who attract millions of hungry birds. In the summer you can canoe here, and in the winter you can cross-country ski past tufa towers dusted with snow.

June Mountain Ski Area

With 1,500 acres of slopes, 41 trails, two terrain parks, and seven lifts, this resort offers a low-key alternative to nearby Mammoth, one of the busiest ski locales in California. You’ll find everything you need for a day on the slopes here, including gear rental and slopeside dining and drinks with mountain views. To get a different perspective on the Eastern Sierra wilderness, sign up for a one-hour ski tour with a U.S. Forest Service naturalist.