Mono BasinVisitor Center

 Mono Lake is 760,000 years old and fed by small creeks that flow into a closed basin. With no outlet salt builds up in the lake. This high salinity makes the lake uninhabitable for fish but the lake's microscopic algae support an enormous number of brine shrimp and alkali flies which in turn fed migratory shore birds and regional nesting birds. 

But the coolest thing about the lake are the tufa towers created by dissolved calcium bubbling out of the underwater springs and combining with the carbonate rich lake water to form limestone. As the lake water receded, due to thousands of years of climate change and more recent diversions to supply Los Angles with water, the underwater towers were exposed. 

The small visitor center has exhibits on the formation of the towers, the ecology of the lake, and the human history in the area. The theater features a short film. The center sits on a hill with good views of the lake.

The center is accessible. The trails are not accessible.

One of the parking lots is signed for RVs. Look for the concrete walkthrough paths to easily get to the center entrance or park in the main lot if it's not busy.  Center   37.96595, -119.12048

Lower Lee Vining Campground

The first group of campsites are located on the edges of a large dusty clearing. They're small and close together. Pass by these and head deeper into the forest where the campsites are more secluded. We camped in site 21 which is large and surrounded by trees. The sites closest to it look like they get little use. Amenities include tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets. 

None of the sites are designated as accessible but most are usable with high fire rings and tables with extended tops.

The campground road has several small loops and dead ends in a turn around. Most RVs will fit in the larger sites.           Campground  37.928210, -119.152990

Yosemite National Park - Tioga Road

 Unlike the Yosemite Valley, Tioga Road is mostly a drive through for anyone who is not physically fit. There are plenty of trails but the mountainous terrain means they aren't accessible. We drove from the west to the east and our first stop was at Tuolumne Grove Trail. The trail is an old road with some of the asphalt still in place. It's only a mile to a hollow tree trunk- dead now but the stump is still standing - that can be walked through. We walked/rolled a short distance before we decided that the downhill grade was too steep. 

Our next stop was a large overlook with interpretive signs and a view of Half Dome.

An accessible trail, actually a sidewalk along the road with great views of the lake, starts at the picnic area and Sunrise Trailhead parking lot. This is the only truly accessible trail that we found along Tioga Road. It's about a mile one way and ends at a scenic picnic area overlooking a beach on the lakeshore. The beach is not accessible.

The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center hadn't opened for the season yet and we didn't try any of the trails. Some of the trails may be accessible with assistance but none are paved.

The roads west and east of Tioga Road are winding without guardrails in places. Use cation on the grades, both when descending and climbing, to avoid overheating your brakes or engine. Most of the parking lots have spaces where RVs will fit.    Yosemite National Park- Tioga Pass     37.800010, -119.875300

Lost Lake Recreation Area

We spent five days at Lost Lake Campground while were waiting for Tioga Road to open so that we could go over the mountains to Mammoth Lakes, California. The campground is pretty with large trees and access to the San Joaquin River. The picnic area is a popular local spot, but the campground doesn't get busy even on the weekends, most likely because the campsites are not reservable. Anyone over 62 is eligible for a substantial discount. There isn't a fee box and the camp host works during the day. She pounded on our door at 6:00 in the morning so try to catch her when she comes home in the afternoon. One of the regulars told us that he puts his payment in an envelope and throws it in her yard which is fenced to keep the free roaming dog contained. It's all a bit strange but we enjoyed staying there. 

The campsites are roomy but there's little privacy because of the lack of vegetation. Most of the sites are usable for wheelchairs. The sites designated as accessible have large parking pads with concrete under the table, the fire ring and the water faucet. 

We spent a few hours every day exploring the park. The road through the picnic area makes a nice walking trail.

A sandy trail at the south end of the park makes a loop through boulders with grinding holes made by the Native Americans. The trail is not accessible due to the loose sand.

A paved trail at the north end of the park leads to the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery. The Salmon Conservation and Research Facility is not open to the public but trout hatchery building and the outdoor trout tanks are all open to the public. Fish food is supplied for visitors to feed the trout in the outdoor tanks.  

A short trail for kids with facts about trout and play equipment branches off the main trail. Native California plants line the trail near the hatchery. 

The trout hatchery building is accessible, but the tanks are too high to see into from a seated position. The outdoor tanks are easy to see into and feed the fish. The kid's trail is accessible.  Park   36.98276, -119.72553