California's Highway 395 from Lone Pine in the south to Bridgeport in the north is considered the heart of the Eastern Sierra Nevada scenic area. The 395 Corridor traverses its edge, providing access to natural geology, flora, fauna and history. Travellers witness a land of contrasts - deserts, 14,000 foot peaks, volcanic domes, lakes, and cascading creeks. Surprisingly, Mount Whitney the highest peak in the U.S. outside of Alaska, is only 85 miles from the lowest place at Badwater, Death Valley. The Eastern Sierra's exposed and visible mountain geology is due to the "rainfall shadow effect", the moisture laden clouds on the western side drop rain before passing over the high mountain range. The east's steep slopes also make it harder for plants and trees to take root. There are also unusual natural features, like the basalt columns of Devil's Postpile, Mono Lake's Tufa, the rock shapes of Alabama Hills, and the oldest living thing, the Bristlecone Pine.
Each town along 395 has roads going into the Sierra, usually following creeks and leading to lakes. Most of the towns are diminutive compared to California's towns on the other side of the mountains, and access over the Sierra is limited to just one mountain pass at Lee Vining, Highway 120, which is closed in winter and most of the spring. The uncrowded Eastern Sierra Nevada aids in its visual beauty. This is a major reason that many movies and television programs are filmed here. The Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine have had hundreds of movies filmed there, like Gunga Din, Charge of the Light Brigade, and more recently Iron Man. Beverly & Tim Rogers' Museum of Lone Pine Film History on Highway 395, Lone Pine is an excellent place to visit for film history and memorabilia.
In addition to scenic attractions, the Eastern Sierra is an outdoor playland. Major portions of land are designated wildernesses, managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management and open to the public. Fishing is very popular and many of the lakes are well stocked. Hiking is top class with well kept trails and many alternatives from easy to strenuous, including backpacking John Muir's "Range of Light" at top-of-the-world places, alpine lakes and glaciers. Horseback-led high-country trips are available at many locations. Swimming and relaxing at crystal clear lakes is ideal. There are numerous non-paved roads for four wheel drive enthusiasts. Campgrounds provide close access to the outdoor activities. Many camps are U.S. Forest Service managed, and there are private operated camping resorts for RVs.
Many visitors enjoy photography, which is probably the number one activity. The photography subjects seem endless - grand vistas, mountain ranges dominating the skyline, mirror water images, waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, and dramatic sunrises and sunsets. I always hike with a camera backpack, and early morning and late afternoon usually provide low level lighting. Mid day is a fine time to relax and enjoy Nature's beauty and peaceful solitude. In addition to natural photo subjects, there are photogenic historical buildings, antique equipment, trains and ghost towns. Perhaps the West's most photogenic is Bodie, located north of Lee Vining; protected and operated by the State of California.
While the Eastern Sierra towns have small populations, they do have tourist accommodations, restaurants and stores. I find their numerous family owned businesses efficient and attractive, a welcome respite from big franchises. The towns' close proximity to the mountains make them good "base camps" for exploring from during the day, and resting at night.
There are some excellent visitor centers along 395 for information, natural and human history books, guidebooks, detailed maps, informative exhibits, videos, and souvenirs. These are the major visitor information centers, additional information can be found at individual towns' "Chamber of Commerce":
Interagency Visitor Center, at the junction of highways 395 & 126, Lone Pine
Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, right side of Highway 203 just before town
Mono Basic Scenic Area Visitor Center, 1/2 mile north of Lee Vining, overlooking Mono Lake
Ray Anderson - For many, many moons I served the public as a civil servant for the California Department of Transportation. My experiences with projects ...
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