Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 9.1 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
8050 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+1000, -1000 round trip |
| Navigation | Road, marked trail, and map |
| Time | Full day |
| Season | December through April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [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). |
Description
If the Obsidian Dome Road to June Lake Junction tour appeals to you, but you do not have a second car for the shuttle, this tour through the same area is your solution. This loop tour covers the first 6.0 miles of the one-way tour, offers the same opportunities to make side trips to the summit of Obsidian Dome and the bowl above Hartley Springs and Peak 8925, but is more difficult due to a steep section through woods and is almost two miles longer..
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) is easily missed because as you ski by it will be behind you. This is the road that the tour continues on. Ski slowly so you will not miss it. If you reach a point where the road makes a distinct turn to the west (left), you have pass the critical junction by 0.1 mile.
The obvious road to the northeast (straight) is part of the Obsidian Dome Road to June Lake Junction tour.
Waypoint 9 - 10
Miles: 6.0 - 6.6
Elevation change: +50
Turn south (right) onto the obscure road and ski south along the bench located to the east of a peak for 0.6 mile until you reach the point where you must leave the road (10). There is no landmark here, but if the road starts to climb you have gone too far.
Waypoint 10 - 11
Miles: 6.6 - 6.8
Elevation change: -200
Leave the road and ski southeast (left), level for about 100 yards and then down at a steep angle through woods for a total of 0.2 mile until you reach a flat area (11). The descent is more difficult when the snow-cover is poor.
Waypoint 11 - 12
Miles: 6.8 - 7.6
Elevation change: +100
Ski southeast for 0.8 mile to the broad saddle (12) west of Wilson Butte.
Waypoint 12 - 13
Miles: 7.6 - 7.7
Elevation change: +0
Ski south for 0.1 mile until you reach a marked trail (13).
Waypoint 13 - 14 (or 15)
Miles: 7.7 - 8.8
Elevation change: -100
There are three alternatives for this section. Two follow roads that may not be easy to discern. They are also marked and on occasion groomed by the U.S. Forest Service. But don't count on finding them groomed. The third alternative is the fall-back should you not be able to find the road or marked trail. In this case, ski southeast until you reach Obsidian Dome Road that is one mile away.
West-most route
Ski south and then southeast on the road and marked trail for a total of 1.1 mile until you reach Obsidian Dome Road (14).
East-most route
Ski east along the base of Wilson Butte following the road and marked trail and then southeast for a total of 1.1 mile until you reach Obsidian Dome Road (15).
Waypoint 14 (or 15) - 1
Miles: 8.8 - 9.1
Elevation change: +0
Turn northeast (left) onto Obsidian Dome Road and ski 0.3 mile until you reach the trailhead (1).
