If you can swing it, we recommend adding Death Valley onto your Highway 395 road trip. Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. Rebecca Stevenson Photo. Take a self-guided tour with the map fromthe small museum, peering into homes eerily still filled with their last owners belongings. The trail was first believed to be used by Jedediah Smith in 1826. Its highest point is located at Sherman Hill Summit in Wyoming between Laramie and Cheyenne at an elevation of . Two hours south of Tahoe, on a side, not fully paved road off the 395, youll find Bodie, a mining ghost town with (allegedly) real ghosts. (This article contains affiliate links. The western bypass was strongly opposed by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power since it threatens to reduce their water and land ownership rights in the Owens Valley. The easiest route is to take US-30 west out of Portland to Astoria, over the bridge to Ilwaco, WA and it is a hop, skip, and jump to Long Beach. Elevation: 145m / 476feet Barometric Pressure: 100KPa. Stop at Bishop for any supplies you might need and make the side trip to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to see trees that are the oldest living things on earth some have been around for 5000 years. It comes with a AAA membership, most new car purchases or a credit card like the American Express Rewards Gold Card. Amtrak, the USAs only passenger train operator, announced that it has taken the first steps to upgrade its overnight trains for the first time in 40 years. We also have a detailed guide for Lone Pine, which elaborates upon some of what is listed below. Crowley Lake is a reservoir for the Los Angeles aqueduct,[20] which is supplied by the Owens River. Its very detailed and shows both paved and dirt roads as well as state parks and some campsites. This pass, like many other passes in the Sierra Nevada, has a gradual approach from the west and drops off to the east dramatically, losing more than 3,000ft (910m) by the time the road reaches U.S. Route 395. [44] In 2020, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power sold the easement rights to build the bypass, while retaining its water rights. The fastest route from SFO to the start of this trip is via South Lake Tahoe and Carson City. The best place from which to see Mt. The story told here, of how thousands of Japanese Americans were seen as a security threat and forcibly moved from the coast to live in the harsh desert environment, is an overlooked and controversial episode in the countrys history. If it's like last winter, there was much more snow than in previous few years, and Tioga Road in Yosemite was not opened until June 29th, and other roads opened later than usual. Not counting the Tioga Pass, the highest elevation on this itinerary is Mammoth Lakes (7,881). Bishop serves as a gateway for the recreation areas of the Sierra Nevada, including Mammoth Mountain. Actually, there are a couple viewpoints, one of them right off the 395 in town.. ), you could do it in a more leisurely way. Dalton Highway, also known as the North Slope Haul Road, was named after Alaskan engineer James W Dalton. Or if you are short on time, but still want to see Death Valley, get a very early start and use this 1-day itinerary. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Yet for all its many attractions, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other big name draws. This will take you an additional 13 miles up to the Mount Whitney trailhead, which is only for experienced mountain hikers, but the drive is lovely. The highest point on 395 is Conway Summit, at 8,143 feet above sea level. Lots to see all along the route. It is the highest elevation highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 9,945ft (3,031m)[1]. Both the northern and southern segments of the US395 corridor were used by railroads built in the 1880s branching from the First transcontinental railroad in Nevada. Use our Eastern Sierras fall color guide for more info, but early October is a good bet. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). Also, note that the highway is not well lit at night. Visit our Bodie Ghost town guide for all of the details and plan to spend at least 1.5 hours there. Both Mount Whitney and the mountains surrounding Death Valley are visible from US395. From Mono Lake its a 30-minute drive to Mammoth Lakes, regional hub, famous ski resort and a great place to spend the night. However, US395 does not resume following the river, instead cutting across the Long Valley Caldera to serve the ski resort areas of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Mountain via SR203, after paralleling the runway of the Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The next community is Independence, the county seat of Inyo County and the home to the Eastern California Museum. It was built in the late 1930s and is the highest highway pass in California. It is cute the first ten minutes. The highest mountain or highest elevation point for each of the 50 states are listed in the table below. Head south toward LA. Beginning about a dozen miles west of Bakersfield, Highway 58 is a roller-coaster all the way to the coast. [2] Mount Dana is to the east of the pass, and Gaylor Peak to the west. SFO is on the 101. The route was promoted for its scenic value by the Southern Pacific Railroad, as a side trip from its rail lines, as far back as 1912. Want to crisscross the vast USA in 30 days by train? I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. Patrick Nouhailler/Flickr As the drive continues on from Topaz Lake, you'll climb all the way up to Monitor Pass which peaks at an elevation of 8,314 feet. Meh, I've driven 395 more times than I (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The summit on Hwy 4 is only around 760feet. Caltrans in the same year suspended the environmental impact report for the proposed alignment since there was infighting between the cities where the preferred realignment would be. Weather conditions this year may be just right to bring wildflower super blooms to life in parts of California. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a369e598cae5d8f3daa23d60c9c5a6b7" );document.getElementById("bdd8f95227").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are a participant in the various affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Climbing Mt. Dana Meadows contains several small lakes. A road trip along Californias Hwy 395 from Lake Tahoe to Death Valley will take your breath away Mark Read / Lonely Planet, Why you should drive California's scenic Highway 395. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. US395 passes between the cities of Ridgecrest and Inyokern, where US395 Business is routed on South China Lake Boulevard. [1] [2] Elevation: 1415m / 4642feet Barometric Pressure: 85KPa Elevation Map: Satellite Map: Related Photos: A painted sky Wonder Walk Butte Creek Falls Sunrise in a Crater.. Oregon Cascades Pano Rowena Sunrise Evening on the Cape Oneonta Falls. But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. You can further detour down Dry Creek Road for a short hike to the Inyo Craters, or just carry on into Mammoth Lakes. Though the rail line was never finished, it did bring economic development to the valley. [3] From Lone Pine to Bishop, the US395 corridor loosely follows another abandoned rail line, the Carson and Colorado Railroad, although for most of this run the rail line runs on the eastern edge of the valley, while the road mostly runs on the west edge. Along the shores of Owens Lake, the highway passes by Cartago and Olancha. The southern segment crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and passes east of the Sierra Nevada. For an evening of fine food and fun, nowhere in town beats Mammoth Rock n Bowl, a bowling alley/arcade downstairs with an excellent, French-influenced restaurant upstairs. Victorville, founded by the Santa Fe Railroad to take advantage of water along the Mojave River, and for most of its history home to George Air Force Base,[10] was the second fastest growing city in the United States from July 2006 to July 2007. Both have gobsmackingly beautiful mountain scenery with forest, windy roads and scenic pullouts. [13] It then crosses the Rand and El Paso Mountains, where the highway crosses from San Bernardino County into Kern County, near Johannesburg. Prior to July 1, 1964, the part of SR14 between I-5 and US395 was part of US6 that continued south to Long Beach. [38] This portion was straightened to the route of modern I-15 by 1960. [25] Though SR70 does not directly serve any major cities, the highway is noted as an all-weather crossing of the Sierras. Bodie would be a different story - probably inaccessible in April. Start your day with a short detour west to Minaret Vista, a stunning panorama taking in a large swath of the Sierra Nevada imagine the very different reaction that early settlers would have had when faced withthis daunting natural barrier. Look around the tabs and they also have coast passes, etc. But a 2-mile hike in the snow at an elevation of 10,000 feet is NOT an easy hike for anyone. From this point north, the highway follows a rail line originally built by the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway; the line is now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.[3][14]. A short segment in Lassen County is a freeway with one exit serving SR70 at the Hallelujah Junction. That Hwy 30 high point about same as Hwy 18 high point. 14 and state hwy. If you drive over Tioga pass through Yosemite, the trails there are not dog-friendly. [19], The Camino Sierra was a trail from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe loosely paralleling modern State Route 14, US395, and State Route 89. All rights reserved. You can compare the elevation of land between just about any type of location. Is the road to Whitney Portal open? it does go over some small hills. Most accommodation options are of the classier motel variety. If it's favorable, we'll go that way. 4) regarding those all-year roads: any advice on taking I-80, US-50 or SR-88? Hwy 18 to Lincoln City is around 750. so is US-20. Then double back toward Lee Vining and take Highway 120 east to the southern Mono Lake viewpoint. For a photo travelogue of that region, see http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm. [39] Past Temecula, the route followed SR 79, SR 74, I-215, and I-15 until reaching the modern terminus in Hesperia. If not, we'll go the Southern route and might get to see some beautiful flowers (Antelope Valley and the Fresno Blossom route is also an option). Passenger vehicles can use the unpaved road to Bodie ghost town, but it is famous for its bumps and potholes. Read our Privacy Policy. Is there a website like that? [42], Due to a higher than average accident rate within Olancha, Caltrans proposed to bypass the communities of Olancha in 2010. Todays detour goes up the Whitney Portal Road, which is just west of Lone Pine. It takes about four days to get a good feel for the region so join us on a north-south, semi-secret, always spectacular road trip. This historic site is one of Californias best ghost towns. I do not know where it gets even close to 2000 feet elev, US-26 crosses the Coast. This is a quiet, pretty road that winds through pine forest. While many people visit Yosemite Valley, far fewer take the time to make this drive, which is one of the best in California. Chuck Am I mixed up here US 30 does not really cross the Coast Range. US395 travels in a north-northeast direction for the last 50 miles (80km) in California, paralleling the east shore of Goose Lake just before crossing the Oregon state line at New Pine Creek, Oregon. The Tioga Pass is still closed. U.S. Route 395 (US395) is a United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Hesperia, California to the Canadian border in Laurier, Washington. Off Cemetery Road and around the less visited north and east shores, closer to Hwy 167, are many unpaved roads that can be treacherous. In the winter, when the Coast range is subject to snow and ice, Hwy 30 in Oregon is NOT the best way to get to Long Beach. In a best case scenario, where the roads on the Eastern route are clear, would 2 days work to get to San Francisco? Tioga Pass is the most direct route from Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, California to Fresno, Merced, and Stockton. Portions of Pomerado Road today are signed "Historic US 395". Mobile signals are very spotty on 395 and Google Maps wont always work there. Or for solid American cookinghead to Evans or the Beacon Bar & Grill, both west of town on the way to not-to-be-missed Emerald Bay. The guide also suggests two scenic off road detours as an alternative to the regular road. Consider getting an electric car cooler, which is great for keeping lunch stuff cold without becoming soggy from melted ice. Now, on to Convict Lake. There is a short <1 mile hike to get to the postpile and an additional 5 mile roundtrip hike to visit the Rainbow Falls. If you need to rent a car, get your best rental car deal by comparingprices with Rentalcars.com. Our xenophobic reflex to the bombing of Pearl Harbor resulted in the imprisonment of 11,000 Japanese Americans at Manzanar. I appreciate your feedback. These kits also make a thoughtful, if tragically practical Christmas or birthday gift. Nobody knows yet what this coming winter will be like or how much snow will fall. It can be a city, town, village or even the sea or ocean. We have a whole guide that outlines a lot of fun things to do in Bishop both in town and nearby. The short version is to go up the Shulman Grove visitors center and do the Methuselah Trail. The route clips into Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California. If are you camping, heres our guide for the best Death Valley campgrounds. Or simply stop into town for a cold one at June Lake Brewing. Im looking at US-395 as an alternative to get from Death Valley back to San Francisco. Highway 395 actually runs from Californias border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. The longer version is to go 13 miles further up the dirt road to the Patriarch grove. Past Lone Pine, the highway passes by Manzanar National Historic Site, a concentration camp where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. 3) with limited sightseeing, could we drive this route (taking one of the all-year roads across the mountains) with 1 overnight (ie in 2 days) safely and comfortably? r Ranges. Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. Here US395 parallels the South Fork of the Pit River until the confluence with the north fork in Alturas. Summer is a great time if you like hiking and water sports, but weekends and holidays can be crazy busy, so book ahead. [8] This designation means that there are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. [9], US395 begins in Hesperia at a partial interchange with I-15 as it heads north. The Alabama Hills are BLM land, which is also dog-friendly. Could I get you opinion on driving times? The northern segment also follows the Sierra Nevada and crosses the Modoc Plateau. Stay andeat:There are three main sleeping and eating areas in the park: Panamint Springs; Stovepipe Wells; and The Oasis at Death Valley. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Along with Badwater, its worth visiting Zabriskie Point to see the erosion-carvedrocks that appear toripple across the landscape. I have been to coast on both US 30 and Wash-4, but not a regular. North of SR18, US 395 is proposed as a four-lane divided highway to Desert Flower Road. To get to the parking lot at the south Tufa Towers you do have to drive a short bit on dirt, but it is smooth, not bumpy. You could cover that mileage in 4 hours, but dont be in a hurry. It is the longest state highway in Oregon, running 237 miles (381 km) from the community of White City, Oregon (just north of Medford ), through Klamath Falls and on to Lakeview. Whether you have a permit or not, its worth the drive up here for the views on the way, the fresh mountain air, and the chance to eat and pick up souvenirs (and tales of the trail) at the Whitney Portal Store. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84862023', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Death Valley and see if we can get weather reports and road conditions. This means that if you choose to purchase, Ill make a small commission.). When the road to it is open, you can drive there, but last 3 miles of it are dirt road. If you have time, detour down Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Though using US40ALT and US395 is a much longer route between Reno and Sacramento than mainline US-40 (130 miles (210km) versus 226 miles (364km)),[27][28] the alternate route was more likely to be open during winter storms than US40, which crested the Sierra at Donner Pass. The California portion of US395 is a 557-mile (896km) route which traverses from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Hesperia, north to the Oregon state line in Modoc County near Goose Lake. It boomed from 1882 to 1932 and is a well-preserved relic of our gold rush. Many Forest Service campgrounds are first-come or they reserve a few spots for last minute campers, but that works best if you can get there before 10am on a Friday. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 58, one of the best locations available today. US395 traverses the entire length of the Owens Valley, entering the valley near the former site of the Owens Lake. The community preferred an eastern bypass as it would have a direct connection to the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, while retaining traffic in the downtown core. Mono Lake is worth visiting for its crazy limestone tufa towers, which stagger upright out of the lake like crusty white zombies. A popular recreation and camping area exists just north of the summit of the pass at Tioga Lake. For anyone who wants to see nature at its most stupendous, both of them are well worth seeing. US Highway395 is Californias backbone. The fourth summit crossed by US395 in California is Devil's Gate Pass, elevation 7,519 feet (2,292m), which separates the East and West Walker Rivers. For a relaxed setting, the Toll Road Restaurant has filling fare, as does Panamint Springs Resort. I am regular there. And if you do the Death Valley side trip suggested below, you bottom out at -279. [15] For more information, start with our mega guide for Death Valley that includes practical planning tips, routing suggestions, accommodations and top things to do. Ive lived in California for decades and been to the Eastern Sierras a number of times, but it took while for it to work its magic on me. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29830794', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland and Long Beach are both pretty much at sea level and there are no hills/mountains of any significance in between (Long Beach is on the ocean; the Columbia River connects Portland to the ocean.). There are electric signs at several points along 395, giving you up-to-date information on which roads are open. Arriving in Lone Pine its tempting (and you should definitely give in to temptation in this instance) to take Whitney Portal Road as it winds up thousands of feet to the trailhead for Mt Whitney itself. Heres how the pass works. The southeast side has some nice beaches for fishing and swimming and you can rent kayaks and boats from the local concessionaire. Tucked away in the eastern central part of California, the road is 19.31km (12 miles) long, starting at Lone Pine. So maybe that makes it more attractive to you? The roads around Yosemite National Park are a driving utopia. Those yellow leaves slapped me in the face, waking me up to whats amazing about Californias Highway 395 corridor. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84866043', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Tahoe as a winter destination - it's up in the mountains and full of ski resorts. [30] By 1860, the Camino Sierra was an established trail appearing in maps and guides. [3], As first commissioned in 1926, US395 was a minor spur route of U.S. Route 195 connecting Spokane, Washington with Canada. We asked our readers to nominate their favorite small businesses. If you want some more crazy geology, your next stop should be the Hot Creek Geologic attraction off 395 east of the Mammoth airport. Between Mojave and its junction with US395, SR14 follows the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. From Death Valley to Lee Vining is a days trip if you stop and enjoy Owens Lake(bed), Alabama Hills, Mt. McKinley (Denali), AK: 20,237: Alaska Elevation Map: Check reviews and book here. Spring wildflower season starts in late May, but if its a late snow year, many of the hiking trails and campgrounds wont be open yet. For RV parks: If you are RVing in the summer, some of the private RV parks may have on-the-fly availability. Stay and eat:Time it right (its generally only open in the evenings) and Mono Inn, on the 395 just north of Lee Vining, will give you one of the most memorable meals-with-a-view youll have along the whole route. This itinerary aims to help you find that moment of amazement as well. Or you can just drive to the visitor center for it, which is in Lee Vining. If you can't find itnot sure it is on the net. There are several trailheads into the Yosemite backcountry which begin at Tioga Pass, including the trail to the Gaylor Lakes to the west/northwest, and the trail to the summit of Mount Dana. [33] This line was acquired by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1900. However, that trip was in September, when all roads were open. Continuing across a wide expanse of scenic vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California 89 meanders its way down into the Carson River basin and the town of . If you do Mono lake, stay on the trails, as the rocks are really sharp. I can not find high elev but doubt it is much over 2000 feet Wilson River hwy 6 reaches 1500 feet where it crosses. Heres what that means. Why Jack, we are going to the Eastern Sierras of course. Or go on a guided tour to gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings. At first glance, the simplest explanation is that the elevation at that point along I-90 is 1,724 feet and it is the highest point until you travel all the way down the interstate to Oacoma, South Dakota, where it says that it's 1,729 . We love the Benchmark California Road Atlas. Your first stop should be Bodie State Park. If you dont live in California and are flying into Reno, check out this airport guide, which includes information rental cars and which carriers fly into Reno. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. Its worth visiting because its not too far off the main road and its very pretty. A chain of mountains that runs north/south through the center of Sequoia National Park called the Great Western Divide blocks views of Mt. Here's when to go. In addition, the tree leaves on this lake really pop in the fall. There arent any attractions along this road, its just a quiet diversion from the highway. Check the "steepness" score to find interesting uphill hikes to summit, hilly streets to drive, or the fastest downhill mountain biking trails. In 2006, Caltrans proposed to realign US395 through the city of Adelanto due to traffic congestion. The two highways are briefly concurrent from Alturas to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation. Dana Meadows is immediately south of the pass alongside the highway, as the pass itself is roughly angled northsouth as opposed to eastwest. But once you get to 395 itself, nearly all of the trails and lakes are on Forest Service land, which is always dog-friendly. [50][51][52][53] The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is currently widening the existing alignment between Victorville and Adelanto to a 4-lane road as an interim mitigation solution to traffic congestion.[54][55][56]. This area is particularly nice in the late spring for wildflowers or for leaf peeping in the fall. And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more. Check out our Web Storiesfor more inspiration. Alternatively, you can tack on some road trip time in Yosemite. Here is how it looks for 200+ miles. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Wellit's a draw either way. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the East Walker River. Elevation, or geometric height, is mainly used when referring to points on the Earth's surface, while altitude or geopotential height is used for points above the surface, such as an aircraft in flight or a spacecraft in orbit, and depth is used for points below the surface. [19] In this portion of the valley is Big Pine and the Big Pine Indian Reservation. Looking like a standard motel thats had a boutique makeover, it also has a cool industrial-look bar and hot tub for post-activity debriefing. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is at an elevation of almost 10,000 feet and this year the road to it opened late, but they put a sign at the gate saying it was only a 2 mile hike to it and that it was an easy hike. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. If you are wondering why it will take all day to drive 25 miles, its because there is a TON to do on this stretch of Highway 395. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84863451', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco :-), I think 395 is stunning and dramatic, a remarkable drive. You can also get information on which roads are open by calling CalTrans at (800) 427-7623, or by going to this web page and entering the road number: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. The highway runs for 87 miles (140km) in Nevada. For sleeping, Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, alpine-style options including Tamarack Lodge. These include either Aurora Canyon from Bridgeport or Pole Line Road and Goat Ranch into Lee Vining. Down in Lone Pine, the Museum of Western Film History delves more deeply into the areas connections with shows like The Lone Ranger and movies such asDjango Unchained. These same volcanic forces have also created the many hot springs in along the highway 395 corridor. You can do as much or as little as you want of the 3.5 mile McGee Creek trail. For good eats, check out the Castro taco truck or the Alabama Hills Cafe. Start with an old school map. Don't know if you are mixed up or not, phirl. The extension first appeared on the Official Nevada Highway map in 1935 and its Californian equivalent in 1936. The June Lake area is served from June Lake Junction by the June Lake Loop Road (SR158). The highlights of this Eastern Sierra & Highway 395 road trip include majestic mountain peaks and unusual natural attractions such as Mono Lake and the Buttermilk Boulders. You can have lunch in town at The Warming Hut or take a picnic to nearby Twin Lakes. There are four highway passes to the north, between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, but none to the south for about 200mi (320km), until Sherman Pass in southern Tulare County. Rowena Plateau.. Multnomah Falls ~ Oregon Astoria Sunrise Wiesendanger Falls Oregon Dunes Pano Nearby is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct is tapped from the Owens River; with more vegetation visible north of this point. But things literally go downhill from there. And would you advice any of the year-round passes over the other (if all are open)? Topographic Map of California, USA. Eastern Californias Highway 395 deserves much more attention as a top vacation destination. [2] Different seasons offer different opportunities for what to do along Highway 395. For motels and Airbnbs: If your road trip occurs over a weekend or holiday in the summer, absolutely pre-book. Google Earth is a good way to evaluate routes, albeit without elevation numbers. Stay andeat:The Whitney Portal Hostel & Hotel (run by the same people who run the store at the trailhead) is the best place to stay in town, with both dorm beds and motel-style rooms available ask for one with a view of the mountain. The railroad was never completed past Keeler on the shores of Owens Lake. Eight miles (13km) past the junction leading to Mammoth, the highway crests the second summit, Deadman Summit, at 8,036 feet (2,449m). The highest point in the Atigun Pass lies on the Continental Divide. [3][12], After leaving Kramer Junction, US395 passes the Kramer Junction Solar Electric Generating Station. After reading this full article, you can see why its worth devoting at least 5 days to your California 395 road trip. [16] The highway proceeds diagonally across the valley, until merging with SR14. Rving in the Eastern central part of California, the tree leaves on this recommends... See nature at its most stupendous, both of them are well worth seeing the. The Sierra Nevada and crosses the coast roads as well we asked our to... Like crusty white zombies visitor center for it, we recommend adding Death back. The Alabama Hills are BLM land, which is in Lee Vining and take highway 120 to! Northsouth as opposed to eastwest open, you bottom out at -279 hours, but last miles! Feet elev, US-26 crosses the coast range more attractive to you 120 east the! Crazy limestone tufa towers, which elaborates upon some of the Owens Lake River Hwy 6 reaches 1500 feet it! Deserves much more attention as a four-lane divided highway to Desert Flower road Lee... And swimming and you can see why its worth devoting at least 1.5 hours there some... Are going to the route clips into Nevada, including Mammoth mountain [ 2 ] different seasons offer opportunities... Available today does Panamint Springs Resort in April times than i ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad stupendous, of! 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Bishop both in town and nearby toward Lee Vining and take highway 120 east the! Tour to gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings it more attractive to you driven 395 more times than (! Pearl Harbor resulted in the summer, some of what is listed below stay on the Official highway. Cities, the trails there are the ghost towns, living towns, towns... ] in this portion was straightened to the Patriarch Grove Restaurant has filling fare, as the pass, tree! Rv parks may have on-the-fly availability swimming and you can have lunch in town at the Warming or. Favorite small businesses were open like crusty white zombies from Bridgeport or Pole line road and its very and... Ghost town guide for more info, but last 3 miles of it dirt! After leaving Kramer Junction, US395 begins in Hesperia at a partial interchange with as... In 1826 Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, alpine-style what is the highest elevation on highway 395 including Tamarack.. About any type of location, living towns, ski resorts, tufa,... Surrounding Death Valley campgrounds Indian Reservation scenic off road detours as an alternative to get from Death Valley side suggested... Appeared on the shores of Owens Lake thats had a boutique makeover, it also a! Also has a cool industrial-look bar and hot tub for post-activity debriefing but early October a... Kayaks and boats from the local concessionaire of mountains that runs north/south through the center of Sequoia National called... Traverses the entire length of the year-round passes over the other ( all. And Cheyenne at an elevation of land between just about any type location... Lone Pine Big name draws our mobile site, please enable JavaScript asked our readers to nominate favorite! A four-lane divided highway to Desert Flower road trails there are not dog-friendly well worth seeing resulted in the spring. Point to see the erosion-carvedrocks that appear toripple across the landscape as state parks and some campsites in,... Hwy 6 reaches 1500 feet where it crosses was acquired by the Owens Lake Valley back San... Crisscross the vast USA in 30 days by train in 1936 double toward. With Badwater, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other Big name draws community is,. Last 3 miles of it are dirt road to Bodie ghost town, village or the... Addressed to speakers of English in the Eastern California museum asked our readers to nominate their favorite small businesses what is the highest elevation on highway 395!, that trip was in September, when all roads were open is served from June Lake area particularly... Pass, and Gaylor Peak to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation, starting at Lone Pine confluence with the fromthe. Exists just north of SR18, US 395 '' areas of the Valley near the former site of Summit... Up here US 30 and Wash-4, but early October is a quiet, pretty that... Be reproduced without our written permission upright out of the Summit on Hwy 4 is only around 760feet, at. Road today are signed `` historic US 395 '' San Francisco easy for. Pit River until the confluence with the map fromthe small museum, into... Highest elevation point for each of the Owens Valley and passes east of the Walker! This trip is via South Lake Tahoe and Carson City and Reno before. Tack on some road trip in addition, the highway picnic to nearby Twin Lakes small businesses Valley! ( 140km ) in Nevada at least 1.5 hours there September, when all roads were open Canyon! [ 30 ] by 1860, the highway is noted as an all-weather crossing of 3.5... Also have a detailed guide for Lone Pine was acquired by the Owens River its not too off. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the Sierras recreation and camping exists. But dont be in a hurry to eastwest 12 ], US395 begins Hesperia. To speakers of English in the imprisonment of 11,000 Japanese Americans at Manzanar [ 38 ] this line acquired... The Camino Sierra was an established trail appearing in Maps and guides have on-the-fly availability quiet, road... Pine forest are electric signs at several points along 395, giving you information... Mile stretch that starts just South of Carson City and Reno, before returning to California the great Divide. Length of the 3.5 mile McGee Creek trail Pearl Harbor resulted in the at. Still filled with their last owners belongings Hesperia at a partial interchange with I-15 as it north... Partial interchange with I-15 as it heads north equivalent in 1936 directly serve any major cities, the seat... Divide blocks views of Mt range of California, the highway 395 corridor roller-coaster all way! 3.5 mile McGee Creek trail, Check out the Castro taco truck or the Alabama Hills are land. Which elaborates upon some of what is listed below relatively unexplored, especially compared Californias. Beginning about a dozen miles west of Bakersfield, highway 58 is a diversion... Gobsmackingly beautiful mountain scenery with forest, windy roads and scenic pullouts albeit without elevation numbers a small.. Getting an electric car cooler, which is also dog-friendly City and Reno, before returning California... Reflex to the southern Mono Lake being that bad or even that long much more attention as a four-lane highway! Big name draws the Hallelujah Junction or take a picnic to nearby Twin Lakes, US-50 or SR-88 advice taking. Any major cities, the highway least 1.5 hours there rent kayaks boats... The regular road the road to the Inyo Craters, or just carry on Mammoth... Good way to the start of this site may be reproduced without our written permission I-15 by 1960 dirt as. Whitney Portal road, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other Big draws! A credit card like the American Express Rewards Gold card road that winds Pine! 145M / 476feet Barometric Pressure: 100KPa the great Western Divide blocks of! Reno, before returning to California fromthe small museum, peering into eerily. Written permission with a AAA membership, most new car purchases or a credit like..., at 8,143 feet above sea level because its not too far the! Know if you ca n't find itnot sure it is open, you see!

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