Mono Basin National Scenic Area, National Scenic Area in Eastern California, United States.

Mono Basin National Scenic Area is a protected area in Eastern California surrounding Mono Lake and the northern half of the Mono Craters volcanic field. It is administered by the Inyo National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service. The Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center, 1/2 mile north of Lee Vining on U.S. Route 395, has a 20-minute film, an interactive exhibit hall, two art galleries and a bookstore.

Congress designated this location as the first National Forest Scenic Area in 1984 to protect Mono Lake and its ecosystem from environmental changes. This decision represented an important step in recognizing the geological and ecological value of the region.

Mark Twain described the Mono Basin in Roughing It (1872), recounting his stagecoach journey past Mono Lake; the book drew early tourists to the area. The Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center, half a mile north of Lee Vining on U.S. Route 395, shows a 20-minute film, an interactive exhibit hall, two art galleries and a bookstore on the basin's natural and human history.

The Visitor Center lies north of Lee Vining on Route 395 and provides maps, exhibits, and details about the main trails and natural features to explore. Plan for a high-altitude environment with intense sun and limited shade, so bring water and sun protection.

Mono Basin became the first National Forest Scenic Area in the United States in 1984, a designation that preceded the better-known tufa towers as a reason to protect the basin. The area was first brought to wide attention by tourists described in Mark Twain's Roughing It.