Mono Lake is in a State Nature Reserve and is surrounded by Mono Basin National Forest. Both are administered by the US Forest Service. In the US, especially the west, there is a lot of public land that is park of national parks, state parks, state forests, and bureau of land management. Each have their own rules. In most of it, you are free to walk anywhere, including off of established trails. But you need to check regulations with the jurisdiction you’ll be in.

Hi Maggie! Great questions! Thankfully most creatures in the desert are harmless and usually more afraid of us than we are of them. During the day you may encounter gnats, flies and beetles but those are more annoying than dangerous. There are bees so do your best to not hit them otherwise they may sting you – it’s best to just quickly move away. If you’re allergic, you may want to carry an EpiPen with you, just in case. At night you’ll probably hear coyotes, owls and rodents so you’ll want to stash your food in a food box or in your car at night. If you’re night hiking, make sure to take a headlamp, stick to designated paths and make noise.

As far as being approached while you’re meditating? I doubt you’ll be bothered by anything more than a fly.

Cali deserts do have a few poisonous creatures like rattlesnakes, spiders and scorpions so I suggest staying vigilant and be careful where you sit, rest your tent and/or walk. DO NOT attempt to move a snake or scorpion…people think they’re helping but it’s best, if you encounter one, to keep an eye on it and slowly move away. To avoid getting stung by a spider or scorpion, I suggest wearing breathable gaiters which wrap around your shoe & up your ankle. You can find them in most outfitter stores like REI and online.

I hope this helps! I love JT in the spring; the weather is perfect & the wild flowers should be blooming.