Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Mud and rock slides in Lundy Canyon

Last Friday, July 20, torrential rain in Lundy Canyon caused several mud and rock slides, which closed the road west of Lundy Lake Resort. There is currently no vehicle access to the trailhead, and no estimated opening date for the road.

Looking west up Lundy Canyon from the top of the largest rock slide that occurred on July 20, 2018. Photo courtesy of Mary Ljung.

Trail work done to repair a washout from last April was again washed out last Friday. Photo courtesy of Janet Carle.

Two slides came down the south-facing side of the canyon and reached the road and trail. One occurred just west of the boat launch and cut off access to Lundy Lake Resort—it was cleared quickly. Another larger slide crossed the road between the resort and the trailhead, cutting off vehicle access to the trailhead.

Friends of the Inyo and the Inyo National Forest had repaired the Lundy trail after a rain-on-snow event in early April had washed it out. Unfortunately, that trail repair was also washed out last Friday.

One slide came down the north-facing side and reached the bottom of the canyon. Numerous additional rocks and small wash-outs across the road have been cleared.

The slide that came down the north-facing canyon wall. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

The larger slides will be difficult to clear. They are up to 350 feet wide and 15 feet deep where they crossed the road, composed of chunks of rock tightly wedged together.

Looking east down the canyon. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

Vehicles can access the Lundy Campground, Lundy Lake Reservoir, and Lundy Lake Resort, but the trailhead is inaccessible for vehicles. We will post updates to the clearing process and estimated road opening dates as we get that information.