This route travels on the northern side of Mono Lake. Mono Lake is a terminal lake: Water entering the lake from streams leaves the lake only by evaporation. As water evaporates, it leaves behind chemicals that have become more concentrated over the millennia. As a result, the water of Mono Lake became twice as salty as sea water. Those pyramid-like formations that pop out of the lake are called tufa towers. They are formed when calcium-bearing freshwater springs well up through alkaline lake water, which is rich in carbonates. The calcium and carbonate combine to form limestone. Over many years, a tower forms around the mouth of the spring. This tufa-forming reaction happens only in the lake itself. As the lake level drops, exposing the towers, they cease to grow.
If you then head north on Cottonwood Canyon Road, you'll soon come to Bodie State Historic Park. (See Route 270 for more info.)
This route continues into Nevada as Nevada 359.