The best play to stay on your US-395 Hwy roadtrip is the Boulder Creek RV Resort in Lone Pine, California. This is Mother Nature’s showroom, where she shares her majestic mountain views, pure pristine lakes and streams, and vast crystal blue skies. Sunrises and sunsets are something to behold daily with expansive views of the Sierra Nevada mountains from the campground located on the famous scenic route of Highway 395.
We're surrounded by the magnificent eastern Sierras and just a skipping stone way from majestic Mt. Whitney. Every day you'll awaken to a picture perfect view and every night you'll fall asleep beneath a vast black blanket peppered with sparkling stars. Discover why travelers return year after year and make Boulder Creek RV Resort their perfect home away from home truly in touch with nature. In an area where hiking and horseback riding trails are abundant, mountain lakes are fresh and crisp, and the scenery is unlike any other, guests are transported into another glimpse of unique California nature and embrace spectacular sunrises and sunsets on the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Viewing wildlife from the campground is not uncommon as elk, deer, birds and other migratory species travel through the open and vast land of Inyo County. This is the best place to stay if you are planning to summit Mt. Whitney as it is the best campground with showers, pool and hot tub in Lone Pine. Here are a few of the best activities and photo ready locations we recommend you explore during your next stay in Lone Pine:
Lone Pine Lake
For hikers and explorers, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than on the trails of Lone Pine Lake. This challenging 6.5 mile long trail features stunning views of Mt. Whitney, as well as a scenic waterfall.
16.4 miles, 27-minute drive
Hiking Trails
Plaza Trailhead
The Plaza Trailhead’s most noticeable feature is the Plover Wing Plaza, inspired by the Snowy Plover, a bird that appears in the Owens Lake area during spring and summer. These small structures help in dust control by keeping particles from being gathered up by wind.
Boulder Creek Trailhead
The Boulder Creek trailhead are distinguished by round, metal shade structures with benches that resemble a cross section of the L.A. Aqueduct. There are birds visible in the nearby mudflats and a large shallow flooding pond to the south.
Dirty Socks Trailhead
Dirty Socks took on its name because a nearby natural spring with a high sulfur content offers an aroma that may remind some of dirty socks. There is also a parking area there as well as another information kiosk.
Mt. Whitney Portal
Like a jagged granite spike piercing the earth, Mt. Whitney looms over the landscape as the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet high. This astounding natural wonder is a must-visit attraction and a beautiful drive leading from town up to the trailhead offering incredible mountain vistas. Hike the trails from Mount Whitney Portal, explore the wilderness, and enjoy one of the greatest and most challenging trails in California. You will need a permit to hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney (22 miles round trip from Mount Whitney Portal) which can be obtained at www.recreation.gov.
9.8 miles, 27-minute drive
Alabama Hills and The Mobius Arch
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada is a beautiful formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills that has charmed and inspired generations. Here you can see the bizarre and fascinating Mobius Arch with its twisting spiral form that is impossible and beautiful all at once.
5.4 miles, 12-minute drive
Fishing on the Owens River
There's nothing like feeling a big rainbow trout on the end of your line. Fly fishing the Owens River is like casting your line into Paradise. The Upper Owens River is open year-round for fishing, making it a definite destination for all avid fishermen.
56 miles, 1-hour drive
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park straddles eastern California and Nevada. It’s known for Titus Canyon, with a ghost town and colorful rocks, and Badwater Basin’s salt flats, North America's lowest point. Above, Telescope Peak Trail weaves past pine trees. North of the spiky salt mounds known as the Devil’s Golf Course, rattlesnakes live in Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
38 miles, 40-minute drive
Horseshoe Meadow Road
Horseshoe Meadow Road is a scenic drive for visitors that enjoy mountain driving, located at 10,000 feet above sea level the road climbs via a series of steep switchbacks with beautiful views along the way. Take the access from Whitney Portal Road along the fully paved route with pullouts to stop and take photos. Surrounded by a pine forest and mountains, the meadow contains access trails to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In the spring, you will see lots of wildflowers in the meadow. Look for birds if you enjoy birdwatching: you may spot nuthatches, chickadees, or small songbirds.
4.8 miles, 9-minute drive
Olancha Dunes OHV
The Olancha Dunes OHV Recreation Area is a popular spot in California's southern Owens Valley for off-road enthusiasts, featuring wide, rolling dunes perfect for OHV riding, with primitive camping available and stunning views of the Sierra Nevada and Coso Ranges; it's a hot, arid desert environment near the town of Olancha, offering a classic desert experience.
20 miles, 22-minute drive
Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
In the 1800s, over 4,000 miners called Cerro Gordo home where nearly $500 million worth of minerals were pulled out of the 30 miles of mines. By the 1940s the town was abandoned, awaiting its next life. Today, Cerro Gordo is undergoing a restoration to preserve the history and introduce new amenities to make it a destination for generations to come. Are you tough enough to race up a mountain road built for mule trains and silver barons? Join the toughest athletes for a legendary race in the eastern Sierras called the "Cerro Gordo Silver Run," an 8-mile uphill battle climbing 4,600 vertical feet to the historic ghost town of Cerro Gordo, once the richest silver mine in California.
23 miles, 45-minute drive
Museum of Western Film History
Enjoy a day of exploring the cinematic West! This unique museum features the country's largest Western backlot, as well as a vast collection of Western film memorabilia. From silent movies, to singing cowboys, to modern takes on the classic Western, this museum celebrates them all.
4.2 miles, 6-minute drive
Manzanar Historic Site
During World War II more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned in Manzanar. Today it stands as a reminder of one of the most tragic and shameful episodes in American history. Visiting this historic site is an educational and enlightening experience for the entire family.
15.4 miles, 18-minute drive
Mammoth Lakes
Enjoy a day of exploring the Mammoth Lakes area offering activites in all seasons. Year-round activities range from relaxing to pure adventure, whether that's mountain biking, hiking, fishing, bird watching, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Mammoth Lakes is truly an unreal playground for kids and adults alike, enjoy miles of paved and dirt bike paths or explore local skateboard parks, ball fields and playgrounds. An easy day trip from the campground, head north on Highway 395.
104 miles, 2-hour drive
June Lake
June Lake looks like a postcard with crystal clear waters surrounded by the serrated edges of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the view from Oh Ridge is exceptionally photo worthy. Fish, hike, picnic, paddleboard or kayak, or just hang out on the sandy shores. Drive the June Lake Loop which is a 14-mile drive through gorgeous scenery.
118 miles, 2-hour drive
Convict Lake Loop Trail
The Convict Lake Trail offers an easy, scenic loop 2.5 miles long around the lake, dog and kid friendly offerin stunning views of Mount Morrison, aspen groves (especially in fall), and a clear blue lake. This trail can extend into longer and more challenging hiking options like Lake Genevieve. This is an easy day trip from Lone Pine, heading north on Highway 395 just south of Mammoth Lakes.
99 miles, 1.5-hour drive
Crowley Lake Trout Fishing
Crowley Lake in a quaint fishing village in Mono County with a vast trout fishing lake about 12 miles south of Mammoth Lakes. With a shoreline that equals 45 miles offering fishing by driving just up to the water's edge, fishing, boast rentals and seasonal watersports including waterskiiing, wakeboarding are popular amongst locals and visitors alike.
92 miles, 1.5-hour drive
Highway 395 Scenic Route
One of the most scenic drives in the United States, US-395 is a major route in the American West, stretching from Southern California through Nevada, Oregon and Washington all the way to the Candaian border. Famous for dramtic landscapes including the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, Death Valley access, and nearby Mammoth Lakes. Offering a mix of high desert, mountains and remote wilderness, this route is well known for stunning views, historic sites like Manzanar, unique geological features like Mono Lake and is a gateway to outdoor recreation.
Historic Lone Pine
Known for its early trout season, Lone Pine is a jumping-off point for fishing both in the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra, including the Golden Trout Wilderness. The easiest access to the Sierra from the town of Lone Pine is at the 8,374-foot Whitney Portal, about 13 miles west of town. The Alabama Hills (near Lone Pine) became a legendary backdrop for hundreds of Western films starting in the 1920s, featuring movie stars like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne. Home to the federally recognized Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.
4.6 miles, 6-minute drive
Alabama Hills Cafe and Bakery
The Alabama Hills Cafe, Bakery and Bar is an unassuming standby whipping up breakfast and lunch, along with a wide selection of home-made baked cookies for you to enjoy.
4.4 miles, 6-minute drive
Margie's Merry Go-Round
With a funky and fun atmosphere shaped like a carousel, Margie's Merry-Go Round is a family operated Chinese restaurant offering classic cuisine and traditional dishes that hikers and locals have grown up to love.