The alabama hills are a lot like the rocks of joshua tree national park. In march 2019, the us congress redesignated the area as the alabama hills national scenic area as part of the john d. If youre in lone pine, ca, dont miss the mobius arch loop trail in the alabama hills recreation area. Hundreds of movie and tv scenes have been filmed throughout this area and reportedly over 400 arches have been spotted weve seen around 50. The third of the series covering the southern portion of the sierra eastside with all the info to popular areas like whitney portal, the alabama hills, pine creek, cardinal pinnacle and more. Join me on a hike in search for the mobius arch in the funky and unique spot in lone pine, ca. Highway 395 in california, travel to the town of lone pine. The other type of rock exposed here is 82 to 85millionyearold biotite monzogranite which weathers to potatoshaped large boulders, many of which stand on end due to spheroidal weathering acting on many nearly vertical joints in the rock. This is the only reasonably findable hiking trail in the alabama hills. Upper alabama hills trail to cyclops skull arch california. Alabama hills a great place to explore destination4x4. California rock guides introduction to rock climbing course is where it all begins. A lovely contrast to the towering escarpment of the eastern sierra nevada, the massive boulders scattered throughout the alabama hills have been chiseled away leaving impressive. May 02, 2017 for recreationists, the alabama hills is a popular spot for familyfriendly hiking, biking, camping and rock climbing.
Map showing the location of many of the arches in the alabama hills, and of the. Hiking and bouldering opportunities abound, therefore distances and difficulty levels will vary. Dec 04, 2019 the alabama hills are the site where hundreds of cowboy movies were filmed over the last century, and you can read all about them here. So exotic, at least for an easterner, and wonderful. This is also an excellent area for mountain biking, as the hills are crisscrossed by an abundance of roads. One of the most popular activities that many come to experience at alabama hills is. The ultimate alabama hills, california guide be my. Make sure to bring water though, as the summer makes this place get really hot. A final punctuation mark is the area is located in the foothills of mount whitney 14,505 ft, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Aug 21, 2020 lone pine is an amazing california town to explore, and the alabama hills are one of those highlights. Alabama hills, cerro gordo, and the trona pinnacles map the wave.
The jagged formation of the mountain makes it a beautiful sight, especially when covered in snow. The list includes hundreds of westerns, gunga din, disneys dinosaur, tremors, star trek, g. Alabama hills rock climbing california rock guides. Because of its dry, rugged landscape, alabama hills has been a popular location for movie sets, especially american western films. Exploring unmarked trails in alabama hills drivingline.
When hiking alabama hills, its important to remember that desert. Alabama hills california motorcycle and atv trails. Recreation area managed by the blm just north of lone pine, california. Its alabama hills movie road, and were showing you exactly how to get. It is an easy 5minute drive down a dirt road, then a 10minute walk to. You can seeclimb mt whitney from here highest mountain in the contiguous us. If youre really looking for the arches that the alabama hills has to offer, this book is oneofakind. The campground is 6 miles west of lone pine on whitney portal road. If you love hiking or touring and want to try and find more alabama hills arches during your visit, you may want to pick up a very helpful book. This retreat will be held in alabama hills in california, usa. Exactly how to go camping in alabama hills, california for free. Get directions, maps, and traffic for alabama hills, ca.
Main st in bishop, for maps to this and other great local destinations. The alabama hills recreational area is a fantastically scenic area. The alabama hills is a unique desert area in owens valley near the town of lone pine along highway 395 in california. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. For more information visit the blm website or stop in at the bishop visitor center, at 690 n. Sitting on the eastern slopes of the sierra nevada, alabama hills has some of the most impressive lowelevation views a visitor can hope to see of mt. If youre hoping to find an adventurous location to camp in california, look no further. Alabama hills offers easy access to panoramic views and lots of solitude. On the loop trail, with lone pine peak l and mount whitney. Oct 22, 2006 one such destination is the alabama hills, which lies west of highway 395, below the spectacular snow capped high sierra and mt. The climbing guide to the eastern sierrasouth 2008. Hiking is one of the most fun things to do alabama hills california. Alabama hills lone pine 2021 what to know before you.
Mount whitney the highest peak in the contiguous united. The ultimate alabama hills, california guide be my travel muse. Turn west at the stoplight onto whitney portal road, drive 2. Both geologic features were shaped by the same uplifting occurring 100 million years ago. Its a short drive and there are lots of little paths and rocks to scramble over. Jun 30, 2017 exploring unmarked trails in alabama hills. Alabama hills encompasses a large area in the outskirts of mount whitney and lone pine peak. Alabama hills, california as beautiful the second time. The rock of the alabama hills is the same age and chemical composition as the sierra nevada. There are hundreds of rock formations within this large area. Helmet, harness, rock shoes, all technical equipment. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit.
Best trails in alabama hills recreation area, california. In the town of lone pine in southeast california, the alabama hills is easily accessed from whitney portal road, which leads. Alabama hills california is located on bureau of land management blm territory leaving it open to the public for free hiking, climbing, mountain biking, 4wheeling and camping across the area. Check out my guide to plan your alabama hills camping trip. Alabama hills is one of my favorite places to camp, explore and party in the entire state of california.
The alabama hills are a formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills set between the jagged peaks of the sierra nevada and the. Whitney, the tallest mountain in california as well as the highest summit in the lower 48. California backpacking guides mt whitney, hiking, guides. Looking for a great trail in alabama hills recreation area, california. The desert setting of the alabama hills with its unusual rock formations and oddly shaped desert plants is admired by nature lovers and photographers alike. Youll be able to perfectly frame mt whitney and the sierras within a natural rock arch formation. With 72 arches and 23 other features detailed within its pages, youre sure to find more than a few arches to identify along your hike and possibly explore beyond the trail to find more. This expansive landscape is a place to enjoy nature and get an exclusive look at an otherwise unworldly environment. Whitney portal rdus395 intersection in lone pine, ca, f. Jan 23, 2021 hiking, picnicking, landscape photography and visiting movie filming locations have made the alabama hills a popular tourist destination. When hiking alabama hills, its important to remember that desert ecosystems are super vulnerable and take time to recover. Alabama hills is california s one of a kind desert destination so there you have it 5 fun things to do during your visit to the infamous location known as alabama hills.
There are other trails, but we kept meeting people who were trying to find said trails in the maze of rock formations. A favorite subject of photographers and filmmakers, the alabama hills natural arch, also known as mobius arch, can be found off movie road in lone pine, california. Exactly how to find alabama hills movie road in california. Explore alabama hills in california with recreation. Though geographically separate from the sierra nevada, they are part of the same geological formation. Located just west of lone pine, ca the alabama hills are situated at. Just under five miles out of lone pine on whitney portal rd, and at 5200 feet of elevation, turn off to the right to find the upper alabama hills trail singletrack that heads up above the alabama hills. Hiking, photography and rock climbing are among some of the most popular activities.
The area is managed as a protected habitat for public enjoyment. Although its already hot in alabama hills, there was still snow visible up in the mountain. Alabama hills lone pine ca the perfect movie setting. Lone pine peak is prominent from pretty much everywhere in alabama hills.
A guide to califonias newest climbing area,this beautiful high desert location should see a lot of traffic due to its relative proximity to the west s major metropolitan areas and a recent writeup in rock and ice magazine. This range of rocky hills between the eastern slopes of the sierra nevada and the town of lone pine in the owens valley is californian to the core, embodying a mythic american west. Dec 26, 2017 a guide to camping in alabama hills, california, and things to do while you are there. Whether you want hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or to relax in camp and soak up the views, this is the place. The best places to go camping at alabama hills, california. Bishop area rock climbs peter croft and marty lewis 2008 maximus press isbn. California rock guides offers private guided climbing in the alabama hills for most of the year. Then, check out the mobius arch loop trail in the nearby alabama hills recreation area. Explore the alabama hills when you travel to california expedias alabama hills information guide keeps you in the know. The alabama hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the sierra nevada in the owens valley, west of lone pine in inyo county, california. The alabama hills a quick guide bishop visitor information center. Alabama hills natural arch sierra nevada geotourism.
The stunning rock formations with numerous roads and trails winding through the area are a great place for auto touring, cycling, hiking, rock. The purpose of this page is to list the southern formations that are scattered throughout the southern portion of alabama hills. The alabama hills have been designated a national scenic area for their vast beauty. Whitney, camping in the alabama hills is the perfect. More recently, django unchained, iron man, and gladiator all had sets here, along movie road. May 17, 2017 alabama hills is a recreation area made up of scenic rocks and hills located in the owens valley. This is my very first solo camping adventure in the alabama hills at the foot of beautiful mt. Beyond its storied history as a movie location, the hills present an elemental grandeur thats breathtaking to behold. Free camping in alabama hills california parked in paradise. There are two main types of rock exposed at alabama hills.
The alabama hills are a vast expanse of coarse orange and brown high desert granite or quartz monzonite towers and outcrops reminiscent of those in joshua tree to the south. This means alabama hills is available to the public for free camping, hiking, climbing, and more. Also a famous movie location, the hills feature over 200 climbing routes from sport climbs to cracks. Alabama hills outside of lone pine, california the location are featured in many western movies and is the birth place of the lone ranger, star trek and iron man. We went to the alabama hills diner and on the wall there is a map of good drive to take into the alabama hills. Weekend in lone pine exploring alabama hills and onion valley. Despite being named for a confederate warship, the css alabama, theres nothing southern about the alabama hills. Jul 09, 2020 alabama hills trail alabama hills trail navigates different terrains of the alabama hills area. Bureau of land management blm and is a protected habitat for public enjoyment. Some of the most popular films that took place in alabama hills were the roundup 1920, the lone ranger 1938, and the man from utah 1934. The name may not be familiar, but youre guaranteed to have seen the alabama hills somewhere. Alabama hills national scenic area bureau of land management. Hiking the mobius arch loop and camping at alabama hills. The alabama hills scenery has been an inspiration for photographers for decades.
Its hard to believe those lumpy potato rocks share the same origin as the sheer cliffs behind them. I thought the boot arch would be perfect for some night photography, and it was. Hundreds of people were camping under every single rock formation, most of them boondocking rvs. There is a designated multiple use trail located west of the arch loop trailhead that is open to dirt bikes, mountain bikes and hikers.
Upper alabama hills trail to cyclops skull arch is a 10. Learn more about gear rental options for your trip. Mar 28, 2021 most of the area consists of wide and hard packed 4x4 roads, making this area best explored in a jeep or dual sport motorcycle. Inyo county, lone pine, california, usa, fine art prints and stock images, nature abstracts and landscapes, people, travel photography, stock images, fine art prints. Hike, fish, rock climb, explore natural arches, mountain bike, ride horses, view the wildflowers, or find your own adventure. Or refer to the book arches of the alabama hills by orlyn fordham to help. The alabama hills are a formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills set between the jagged peaks of the sierra nevada and the geologically complex inyo mountains.
The hills are located west of lone pine and are managed by the bureau of land management. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and mountain biking. Apr 23, 20 the alabama hills and eastern sierra photography. However, the main draw for us to the alabama hills was to check out mobius arch, an arch that perfectly frames mt whitney in its window. The alabama hills are a series of rock formations scattered across the east side of central california. An easy stop on a road trip up highway 395, the alabama hills are fun for the whole family and can be explored in an hour or a week, whatever you decide. The arch loop trail was created in partnership with the eastern sierra interpretive association and the alabama hills stewardship group. One is an orange, drab weathered metamorphosed volcanic rock that is 150200 million years old.
The alabama hills recreational area is a fantastically scenic area of the eastern sierra nevada just west of lone pine, ca. This means they are an incredible place to do a little rock climbing or bouldering. A chico, ca based project to map all the hiking trails in california and present them beautifully on one map. Bureau of land management blm as the alabama hills recreation area. Save book 5 nights and get 2 additional free nights to your lists. The otherworldly landscape of alabama hills makes it the ultimate travel destination in california.
These low range rocks have rounded edges and are contrasted by sharp ridges of the sierra nevada mountain range to the west. Its an easy hike that has one of the best photo opportunities in the eastern sierras. Your guide to an epic alabama hills camping trip ready, set, pto. It is a worldclass climbing and hiking destination with the tallest mountain in the. Alabama hills at the base of californias eastern sierra mountains is. Apr 03, 2017 the alabama hills recreation area is managed by the u.
The rounded, weathered contours of the alabama s, form a sharp contrast between the. By michael strassman published by range of light productions. California backpacking guides is a division of sierra wilderness seminars inc. This climbs another 400 feet of elevation before beginning a descent into the hills. How to reach the instafamous alabama hills movie road for. Located within the alabama hills national scenic area, photographers come from all over the country to capture this amazing view. It is known to the world as a popular movie location with a long, rich history. The largest concentration of the formations is on the north side. Exactly how to go camping in alabama hills, california for. During my last trip to the alabama hills in the eastern sierra, i could not believe how crowded it was in the movie flats area just outside of lone pine, california.
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