To the southeast of the sierra crest lie several arid valleys, and mountain ranges. Because the high elevations of the major Sierra peaks cause uplifting of the prevailing west winds, atmospheric moisture is much reduced in the "precipitation shadow" area.

In northern Mono County, the Walker River flows from the Sierra and Sweetwater Ranges, out to a great inland sea near the town of Hawthorne, Nevada. Walker Lake has desertlike surroundings, at an elevation of just over 4000 feet. While the water is somewhat saline and mineralized, the lake supports a healthy population of fish, including the sought-after Cutthroat Trout. It's also a great lake for powerboating and watersports. Hawthorne is a Nevada gambling mecca for many Eastern Sierra residents and visitors. Lucky Boy pass leads over the Wassuck Range from Hawthorne, connecting the old ghost town sites of Aurora, Bodie and Masonic, but the main highway routes from the Sierra region are U.S. 6 North from Bishop over Montgomery Pass via the Chalfant, Hammil and Benton Valleys, and California State Route 167 leading east from Mono Lake over Anchorite Summit.

a dusting of snow covers Mono Basin on a December morning.

Mono Lake also sits in an arid basin, but its basin is set directly against the Sierra Crest, just east of Yosemite National Park. This is very high desert, with an elevation of about 6400 feet. Pumice and obsidian abound here, in a volcanic landscape covered with sagebrush and bordered by forests. East of Mono Basin and Pumice Valley, California State Route 120 proceeds over Sagehen Summit through Adobe Valley to Benton.

The Owens Valley, which also lies immediately east of the Sierra Nevada's eastern scarp, has been known since the time of the original Indian inhabitants as the "Land of Little Rain."  The Owens River flows down from Long Valley, and because of it and its tributaries, water is fairly plentiful here, as it is also in the Mono Basin further to the north.  The towns of Bishop, Big Pine, Independence and Lone Pine are located here, in view of the tallest mountain range in the lower 48 states.

Sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells

Further to the east, however, the climate continues to become drier, giving way to a more classic desert environment.  Several more mountain ranges lie between the desert basins, including the Inyo Mountains, the Waucoba Range and the Panamint Range.  Even at the rim of Death Valley itself, Telescope Peak rises to an elevation of 11,049 feet.

Badwater in Death Valley, at 279 feet below sea level.

No desert is without its oases, of course, and the most famous oasis in Death Valley is at a place called Furnace Creek, where visitors will find amenities including a swimming pool and golf course.  Beware of soaring temperatures here on summer days, however.  Highs in the 90's are common even through the spring and fall months. Tanks of emergency radiator water are spaced strategically along California State Route 190, but many of the byways in this vast region are unimproved gravel roadbeds, and roadside services are frequently 50-100 miles apart. There are opportunites for off-road and four-wheel-drive adventures, but please abide by park regulations, stay on approved routes, and be well-prepared for desert travel!

Further north within the Death Valley National Park are the Panamint, Eureka and Saline Valleys, each containing a variety of unique desert features. Stop at the Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine, where State Route 190 leaves 395, for more information.