California’s Great Beyond

Scenic Viewpoints

The views from just about anywhere in the Eastern Sierra are usually impressive, but there are some can’t-miss spots to stop for a photo or to drink in the views. A few favorites:

  • The Mono Lake Scenic Viewpoint atop Conway Summit on Highway 395 gives you a bird’s eye view of the glistening, metallic waters of Mono Lake.
  • The Oh! Ridge Scenic Overlook Observation Site at the southern entrance to the June Lake Loop on Highway 158 has impressive views of the “Switzerland of the Sierra,” as June Lake is often called.
  • The Minaret Vista on Minaret Road above Mammoth Lakes offers views of the sweeping backcountry of the High Sierra.  Located just past the Main Lodge at Mammoth Mountain, the Vista overlooks the Ansel Adams Wilderness Area and the jagged ridgeline of the Minaret Mountains.
  • The Crowley Lake Scenic Viewpoint on Highway 395 has views of Crowley Lake as it spreads across the high mountain valley in one direction and Mount Morrison and the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains on the other.

Filter Your Search