June Lake, California is the place you want to be --ever since a number of workers migrated from the gold mines of Bodie to the June Lake Loop to construct the Rush Creek Hydroelectric Project in 1915. That was when power company employee Roy Carson started his fishing camp on Silver Lake.
In those old days the local Native Tribes would of course be in the Loop as well during the summer, participating in trade days and celebrations with all in the area.
Shortly thereafter, with the advent of mass-produced automobiles, June Lake became a favorite destination for motor touring, with its unparalleled scenic value and proximity to the newly-completed Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. A number of dignitaries and notable Hollywood figures established themselves as June Lake Loop residents for the summer months each year.
Skiing and winter activities have also been available since the mid-1930's. The June Mountain Ski Area is well-known as a family friendly resort with a wide variety of terrain for all ages and abilities.
For generations, June Lake has been the favorite resort town for hundreds of families. The June Lake Loop is beautiful in all four seasons, and it's at the crossing of US Highway 395 and California State Route 120, so area attractions are convenient within just a few miles in all four directions.
To the west --Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, and connection routes to all Central and Northern California points*;
To the north --Mono Lake, Lee Vining, Bodie Historic State Park, Bridgeport and on to the Reno/Tahoe area;
To the east --The Mono Mills Road* via Sagehen Summit to Benton Hot Springs, Boundary Peak, and Montgomery Pass into Central Nevada.
To the South --Mammoth Lakes, the Bishop area, Bristlecone Pines, Lone Pine - the gateway to Mt Whitney, Death Valley, Las Vegas and all of Southern California.
Our village of June Lake has shops and galleries, RV parks and waterfront Marinas on June Lake and Gull Lake. A variety of lodging options is available, as well as camping and RV living during the warm months.
Further along the Loop Road (California State Route 158), our horseshoe-shaped canyon will take you past the Ski Area and alpine meadows, down to more Businesses and Resorts near the base of Carson Peak. There are a range of eateries and lodging opportunities throughout the June Lake Loop to suit your needs. You'll encounter the Reversed Creek Lodge; Fern Creek Lodge and Store; Carson Peak Inn Restaurant; Lodging, Dining, Spa and fitness at the Double Eagle Resort; and more lodging at the Whispering Pines.
Just beyond these resorts lies Silver Lake. The Loop Road is closed during winter nowadays, so old Roy Carson's camp is shut down and snowed in, but each year in late April the modern-day yet truly historic Silver Lake Resort, Store, Cafe and RV Park springs to life --in many ways it's still the heart of the Loop through mid-October. The Frontier Pack Station and the Rush Creek Trailhead are just downstream from Silver Lake.
Only a few miles up the trail the Ansel Adams Wilderness lies, with its peak elevations over 12,000 feet. One can travel south down the Ritter Range to Devil's Postpile, or north over Donahue Pass to Yosemite's Tuolumne country.
Back on the roadway, following popular fishing areas along Rush Creek as the canyon makes its bend, we arrive at Grant Lake. Grant Lake is a reservoir, and a larger body of water. As with Silver Lake it is not accessible by automobiles during winter snow months. Grant Lake is the local opportunity for waterskiing, wakeboarding and PWC use during the warmer times of year, as well as enjoying its reputation as another famous sport fishery: "home of the German Brown." There are Marina Services, Launch Facilities and a nice Campground with RV spaces.
Rush Creek is open below the Grant Lake Dam for barbless catch-and-release fishing, as the water courses its way toward Mono Lake. The "Loop" is completed here by turning south on US Highway 395, and proceeding about six miles to the June Lake Junction Shell Mart and Deli where you turn right back on to the Loop Road.
* Note: Highway 120 subject to Winter Closure, usually Dec. through May.