Lone Pine Highway 395: Where Nature and Film History Collide

Lone Pine, California, is a small town in Inyo County, nestled between the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west and the Inyo Mountains to the east, in the heart of the Owens Valley. Lone Pine is the jumping-off point for Mt. Whitney trails. Mount Whitney, Mammoth Mountain, Alabama Hills, and Manzanar National Historic Landmark are all within day-trip driving distance. Lone Pine also hosts the Lone Pine Film Festival each October. Lone Pines offers spectacular views of the Sierra and Owens Valley. Much of the local economy is based on tourism.

Lone Pine Museum of Western Film

The Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine celebrates the town’s role in over 400 films, showcasing memorabilia from movies shot in the area like “Gunga Din” and “Iron Man.” The museum features a vast collection of artifacts, including costumes. Posters, stagecoaches, autos, film props, and much more. Museum of Western Film 701 S Main Street (Highway 395). Visit the Museum website.

History of Lone Pine, California

Lone Pine, California, was founded in the 1880s to provide provisions to the local mines, including the Cerro Gordo, one of California’s most productive silver mines. The Carson Colorado Railroad, which serviced the Owens Valley, dropped off supplies and picked up produce grown in the surrounding farms and orchards. After the water was diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, the farms dried up, and the miners moved on. A second boom returned in the ’20s when the nearby Alabama Hills was used as a backdrop for more than 250 films.

Whitney Portal Road Camping & Hiking

Whitney Portal Road leads to various hiking trails, including routes to Lone Pine Lake and the summit of Mount Whitney itself, although climbing Whitney requires a permit. Whitney Portal can be reached by driving 13 miles west of town on Whitney Portal Road. Whitney Portal Road intersects Highway 395 at the traffic signal in downtown Lone Pine.

Alabama Hills Rock Formations

Alabama Hills is 4 miles west of Hwy 395 in Lone Pine along Portal Road. The hills are an excellent place to explore the many dirt roads that run through the area. The Alabama Hills offers opportunities for rock climbing, photography, and exploring movie locations through self-guided tours. There are several nearby campgrounds for an extended stay while exploring the hills. There are several motels in Lone Pine, including the Dow Hotel, where Jon Wayne and numerous other movie stars stayed while filming Western movies in the nearby Alabama Hills.

Manzanar National Historic Site

Lone Pine is the nearest town to the Manzanar National Historic Landmark. It’s on Highway 395, about five miles south of Independence. Manzanar National Historic Site, where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II, offers insights into this period of American history. Website.

Lone Pine Trout Fishing

Trout season in the Eastern Sierra opens two months earlier than elsewhere, starting with the Early Opener Trout Derby on the first Saturday in March. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks streams and lakes with Rainbow and Brown Trout. Cottonwood Creek, near Lone Pine, is a popular fishing spot. The best fishing is from the campgrounds at the powerhouse intake to the end of the road.

Location and Weather

Lone Pine and most of Owens Valley have a high desert climate characterized by hot summers and cold winters. January temperatures range from the middle fifties to the upper twenties, and July temperatures range from the upper nineties to the lower sixties. Snowfall averages only five inches annually. Lone Pine, California, is on Highway 395, 60 miles south of Bishop and 200 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Points of Interest Along Highway 395

Cerro Gordo Ghost Town

Cerro Gordo is regarded as a ghost town, featuring several preserved buildings such as a general store, a bunkhouse, and the remnants of the American Hotel, which unfortunately burned down in 2020. The town is privately owned, and the owner of the town intends to preserve its history while transforming it into a tourist attraction.

Little Lake Ghost Town

Little Lake, California, is a historic site in Inyo County, just off U.S. Route 395 at the southern end of Owens Valley. The town served as an important stop for travelers journeying between Los Angeles and the Eastern Sierra. Little is left of the town today except for some foundations and the old post office building.

Owens Lake Plover Wing Plaza

There are three public access routes and trails around the lake: Boulder Creek, Dirty Socks, and Plaza. We recommend visiting the Plaza, the most developed and interesting site. However, all three entrances can be hard to find. There are no signs, just numerous dirt roads. But don’t let that discourage you; the effort is worth it!