Route Inventory Data Summaries: 7/7/05
Area: Mono Craters
Observers: Mike Klapp and Chris Kassar

Route 01N12

*shown as 4x4 route heading into Mono Craters. On 2003 Inventory shows stopping at base.
**shown as trail

Route description: This route leads up to the north end of the Mono Craters from 01N11 (Picture 707001).

Narrative summary: After its junction with 01N11, this route continues up toward the craters for ~1/4 mile to a closure gate (Picture 707003).Before this closure gate there are full-size vehicle and motorcycle tracks (Picture 707002). However, there are only pedestrian tracks after the gate, thus it appears effective despite the fact that the lock is broken.  The route deteriorates considerably after the gate and becomes a steeper narrow trail, passable only to foot traffic. The route is passable on foot, although it is very sandy and scattered with large pumice blocks (Picture 707004).  The dominant vegetation along the trail is sagebrush; other vegetation along the trail includes bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, sulfur buckwheat, Bigelow’s monkeyflower and firecracker penstemon. On the inventory map, this route is supposed to end at the gate, however, it actually continues past the gate to its junction with 01N22 (Picture 707005).   

Recommendation: Beyond the gate, this route is currently closed to motorized use; we recommend that this portion remain closed and need not be included on the inventory as a route for motorized use (as shown on the current inventory). This route is too rocky and narrow for safe motorized or mechanized access. Keeping this route closed and managing it as a trail for non-motorized, non-mechanized use would be practical and cost effective and would provide reasonable hiking access to the Mono Craters. 

Route N134

Route description: This is a spur heading south and east off of 01N25 into the west Mono Craters.

Narrative summary: This route is very sandy and rocky and shows little sign of recent use (Picture 707007).  There are 3 barriers and a gate near the bottom of the route that appear to be preventing access to the route. There are motorized vehicle tracks leading up to the barriers, however, no tracks were found beyond the barriers.  The route is dominated by sagebrush with bushes growing up to 2 feet high in the center.  There is also bitterbrush, rabbitbrush and hopsage growing along the route.

Recommendation: Beyond the gate, this route is currently closed to motorized use. We recommend that this portion remain closed and need not be included on the inventory as a route for motorized use. Because the purpose of this route is unclear and the route is undefined and vegetation appears to be growing back, we recommend keeping it closed.

Route F70701

Route description: This is a 4WD route heading NNW off 01N22 in the Mono Craters. (The route exists entirely in an area closed to motorized use at the north end of the Mono Craters).

Narrative summary: This route is rocky and shows little signs of recent use because we observed only old remnant motorcycle tracks (Picture 707008, 707009). The dominant vegetation along the trail is sagebrush, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush, creambush and rabbitbrush) reaching a maximum center height of 1 ½ feet.

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for opportunities to view the east side of Mono Lake. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use, we recommend complete continued closure to motorized vehicles. 

Route 01N22

*shown as trail

Route description: This route leaves 01N11/01N26 ~1 mile south of highway 120 and wraps to the north and east into the Mono Craters (Picture 707030).  

Narrative summary: After its junction with 01N11 and 01N26, 01N22 travels for ~ 150 yards where there is a closure gate (Picture 707032). This locked gate and sign appear to be effective; especially after the addition of a spur closure ~20 feet above this gate (Picture 707033, 707034). There are motorcycle tracks beyond the gate and along the route, however, they may predate the spur closures or may be from government employees with access to the gate (Picture 707005).

The route continues beyond the designated inventory “stop” on the map and is labeled as a 4WD route. We walked beyond the “stop” to the end of the 4WD route and found a good deal of proliferation of motorized tracks throughout the craters. Although we estimate that this route experiences low to moderate use, this route is very sandy and crosses through wide open desert allowing for extensive proliferation of off-route tracks and trails leading to open hill climbs and play areas (Picture 707006, 707019, 707018, 707017, 707016, and 707015).

There is a view point and turn-around that overlooks Mono Lake and has a significant amount of motorcycle tracks in the vicinity (Picture 707011, 707013). At this spot, there is also the potential for and evidence of extensive proliferation because of the surrounding sandy terrain (Picture 707012). The route is dominated by sagebrush with bushes growing up to 6 inches high in the center.  There is also lupine growing in the center of the route, with Jeffrey pines, bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, sulfur buckwheat, wallflower and paintbrush growing along the route.

Recommendation: The destination of this route is unclear because as it travels north and east through the Mono Craters, it becomes less and less defined and eventually disappears. As a result, users move into the open areas and create their own routes throughout the craters. Beyond the gate at the base of the Mono Craters, this route is currently closed to motorized use. We recommend that this portion remain closed and not be included on the inventory and designation as a route for motorized use. Keeping this route closed and managing it as a trail for non-motorized, non-mechanized use would be practical and cost effective and would provide reasonable hiking access to the Mono Craters while decreasing the amount of damage resulting from the proliferation of motorized trails in this area. 

Route 01N26

Narrative summary: At the junction between 01N26 and 01N11, there is an informational sign explaining that the Mono Craters have been closed to vehicle traffic since 1977 (Picture 707029). The sign describes the resource damage that occurs due to OHV use and clearly states that users must remain on designated routes. There is a clear map differentiating between areas that are open and closed to motor vehicles.

Farther up route N126 there is a sign indicating that this route is within a limited use area, requiring that vehicles remain on designated routes.

Along this very sandy, moderate to high-use route, we observed pedestrian, motorcycle, mountain bike, ATV, and full-size vehicle tracks (Picture 707026). This route passes through an open sagebrush steppe area, allowing for instances of off-trail use.  We observed the proliferation of tracks off of N126 and found a few widening pull-outs along the route (Picture 707025, 707024). At the east end of the route, there is a closure sign indicating the prohibition of motorized vehicle use beyond the sign. Vehicle tracks are present beyond the sign and there is a motor cross sticker on the back of the sign (Picture 707022 and 23).  There is a good deal of proliferation on the pumice flat above and below the sign (Picture 707021).

The route is dominated by sagebrush with little to no vegetation growing in the center of the route. We observed bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, and lupine growing along the route.

Recommendation: Rules regarding this route and the surrounding area are clearly defined in the kiosk and signs along the route. However, users do not appear to be complying with these signs and associated rules. To fully limit proliferation, this route should be closed completely. This will be a difficult task because of the surrounding wide open terrain.  There is no riparian or critical habitat in this area so it may not be a high priority for the Forest Service.  

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