Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 7.2 miles one-way |
| Starting Elevation |
8050 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+900, -1100 one-way |
| Navigation | Road and map |
| Time | Most of a day |
| Season | Late November through April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted except very close to the end point [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, June Lake |
| Start | Highway 395 at Obsidian Dome Road, 3.8 miles south of June Lake Junction (June Lake Loop South Entrance) and 11.7 miles north of Mammoth Junction (junction of Highways 395 and 203). |
| End | Highway 395, 0.4 mile southeast of June Lake Junction (June Lake Loop South Entrance). The exact ending point is on the southwest side of the highway and directly opposite Pumice Mine Road.. |
Description
The tour from Obsidian Dome Road to June Lake Junction is through a beautiful, heavily forested area. The first 1.5 miles of the tour passes through the well-used Obsidian Dome area, but beyond you can be assured of seeing very few people.
For those skiers who desire to lengthen the tour, there are two possible side trips: one leads to the summit of Obsidian Dome, and the other one leads to a secluded bowl above Hartley Springs.
If you do not have two cars to make the shuttle, you can also explore this same area and return to the starting point as described in the Obsidian Dome Road - June Lake Junction Loop tour.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 -2
Miles: 0.0 - 1.0
Elevation change: +150
From the trailhead (1), ski southwest on Obsidian Dome Road for 1.0 mile until you reach a road junction (2). The fork to the west (right) is part of the Hartley Springs Campground Loop tour. The tour described here continues on the fork to the east (left).
Waypoint 2 - 3
Miles: 1.0 - 1.5
Elevation change: +150
Continue on the fork to the east (left) and shortly turn south for a total of 0.5 mile until you reach a very obscure road junction (3) where the obvious road turns southeast (left). At this point you are very close to Obsidian Dome and on its west side. Refer to the Obsidian Dome tour if you want to explore the summit.
Waypoint 3 - 4
Miles: 1.5 - 2.1
Elevation change: +200
Do not follow the obvious road. Ski south (straight) on an obscure road for 25 yards, then southeast (left) for 0.1 mile to an open area, and then follow the road as it makes a 180-degree loop to the right and heads northwest for 0.5 mile until you reach road junction (4).
If the road is not visible in the open area where the 180-degree loop is located, make the turn and look for the road where it enters the trees.
Waypoint 4 - 5
Miles: 2.1 - 2.6
Elevation change: +150
Continue on the west (left) fork for 0.5 mile until you reach a road junction (5) that is very difficult to see when the snow has drifted over the west (left) fork. If you reach the Hartley Springs drainage, then you have passed the junction by 0.1 mile. No problem though, since in the next section you will be traveling here and beyond.
It is at this junction that you must turn west if you want to make a side trip into the secluded bowl above Hartley Springs or to the top of Peak 8925.
Waypoint 5 - 6
Miles: 2.6 - 4.2
Elevation change: +150
Ski on the east (right) fork for 1.6 miles until you reach a saddle (6).
Waypoint 6 - 7
Miles: 4.2 - 4.6
Elevation change: +100, -100
Immediately after crossing the saddle, you will encounter a road junction. The west-most (left) road dead-ends. You want the east-most (right) road. Continue on the east (right) fork for 0.4 mile until you reach a second saddle (7).
If for end up on the dead-end road, you can ski to its end and then ski northeast back to the correct road that is about 0.1 mile away. You will intersect the correct road not far from the second saddle.
Waypoint 7 - 8
Miles: 4.6 - 5.1
Elevation change: -300
Ski northwest on the road, descending a gully, for 0.5 mile until you reach the site where a microwave tower once stood and the road makes an abrupt turn to the northeast (right) (8). From here you have views of both June Lake and Mono Lake.
Waypoint 8 -- 9
Miles: 5.1 - 6.0
Elevation change: -250
Ski northeast (right) on the road for 0.9 mile until you reach a road junction (9). The road to the south (right), which is easily missed, is part of the Obsidian Dome Road - June Lake Junction Loop tour.
Waypoint 9 - 10
Miles: 6.0 - 7.2
Elevation change: -400
Continue on the obvious road that weaves north for 1.2 miles until you reach Highway 395 (10).
In this section, shortly after leaving the road junction (9), the road crosses a ridge as it turns west (left). The road then turns northeast (right). Beyond here there are a number of roads not shown on the topo map that you may or may not see. If in doubt, continue on the road to the northeast until you reach a flat area southwest of the highway. It is a short distance to the highway.
