Colorful adventures in scenic Mono County
MONO COUNTY, Calif. – As the busy summer winds down, it’s a great time to head to Mono County to take in the sights of brilliant fall foliage along with plenty of entertaining activities to participate in while you’re in town.
June Lake Jam Fest returns to Gull Lake Park Sept. 6-8. This local’s favorite features live music, a magical setting and ticket sales that benefit the Mono Arts Council’s music programs for kids. Taking the stage this year are Melvin Seals & JGB, Cubensis, Dead Winter Carpenters, GooveSession, Matthew Curry, Mojo Green, The Mother Hips and more.
Four fun-filled days of off-road adventure come Sept. 24-28 at the Eastern Sierra ATV & UTV Jamboree in Coleville and Walker. Head out on guided trail rides through the beautiful backcountry during this exhilarating event.
Challenge your stamina and grit during the Ridge Rambler Half Marathon on Sept. 28. The race begins at beautiful Lower Twin Lake and follows trails and dirt roads downhill to the town of Bridgeport, with sweeping views, babbling creeks and colorful aspen along the way. After the race, head to the Bridgeport Autumn Festival & Wrecks and Rods Car Show, Sept. 28, for tons of family fun.
Craft beer lovers rejoice as the June Lake Autumn Beer Festival returns to Gull Lake Park on Sept. 28. Live music, food vendors and free family-friendly activities are open to the public. Guests 21 and over can buy tickets to the beer garden with over 17 breweries on-tap.
Historic Benton Hot Springs will host Catered Dinners & Presentations through Oct. where guests dine in rarely-entered historic buildings accompanied by fascinating programs: “The Strong & Scandalous Women of Benton” on Sept. 28, “Restless Spirits of the Old Stone Store” on Oct. 12 and “Warren Davis, Gentleman Horse Thief” on Oct. 26.
Sept. 28 is one of five Free Entrance Days to national parks in 2019 – what better time to visit Yosemite than when the fee at the main kiosks are waived?
The Crowley Lake Trail Run 5k/10k and kids 1k fundraising runs are on Oct. 6. Run past Crowley Lake, Beaver Cove and Crooked Creek, taking in the spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada and Glass Mountains.
Annetts’ Mono Village Fall Fishing Derby is the perfect event for kids and kids-at-heart to get outside, appreciate nature, and maybe even catch a few trophy trout or two. The Fall Derby is set for Oct. 10-15th – prime time for fall colors.
New this year, the Mammoth Photo Festival from Oct. 10-13 features photo industry icons as keynote speakers to provide educational experiences and panel discussions for aspiring photographers. Oct. 12 also marks the Fall Photo Day with special access to Bodie state park.
Leaves in the Loop is a new fall festival in June Lake that celebrates the gorgeous colors of the season from Oct.18-20. Enjoy photography and painting classes, contests, a downtown history tour, and “Taste of the Town” restaurant sampling.
The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association’s fourth annual Eastern Sierra History Conference will be at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory Page Center on Oct. 25-27. Historian-led discussions will cover the people, culture and traditions of the Eastern Sierra region.
For avid anglers, it’s almost derby time at Convict Lake, just south of Mammoth Lakes- one of the most popular rod-and-reel destinations in Mono County. Ambush at the Lake Now – Nov. 15 and the Morrison’s Bonus Derby Weekend is scheduled Oct. 26-28.
About Mono County
Located approximately 315 miles north of Los Angeles, and 280 miles east of San Francisco, Mono County accesses the east entrance to Yosemite National Park and welcomes visitors year-round. The Eastern Sierra’s vast playground is an easily reached destination whether driving the all-weather US Highway 395 or taking advantage of direct United or JetSuite X flights from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Orange County (SNA), Burbank (BUR) and Denver (DEN). US Highway 395, which traverses Mono County from north to south, is a State-Designated Scenic Byway offering motorists tremendous vistas right from the steering wheel and countless side-roads, hiking trails, lakes, and roadside villages to explore. To view more events happening this fall in Mono County, please visit MonoCounty.org.
