Lee Vining Canyon is in east-central California between Mono Lake and Yosemite National Park. The byway begins just south of Lee Vining and travels west through Inyo National Forest to the Tioga Pass entrance of Yosemite National Park. The byway follows CA 120, a two-lane paved road safe for travel by all vehicles. Lee Vining Canyon is 12 miles long and is normally open Memorial Day to early November.
The byway is the highest vehicle crossing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It climbs 3,200 feet to an elevation of 9,945 feet at Tioga Pass. Byway travelers are treated to mountain meadows and rugged peaks. Lee Vining Creek flows alongside the byway. In autumn, large stands of aspen paint the canyon with colors of gold. Wildlife observers should be on the lookout for bighorn sheep.
There are several national forest campgrounds along the byway. Big Bend Campground has 17 RV and tent sites. Ellery Lake has 15 campsites. Junction and Tioga Lake campgrounds each have 13 campsites. Saddlebag Lake is a short side trip off the byway and has 20 sites. None of the campgrounds have hookups.