Eastern Sierra on US 395

US 395 runs under the tall eastern wall of the Sierra, passing Alabama Hills, Manzanar, Bishop, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake. Fall colours on the aspen turn the lake basins orange in October. It suits people who like mountain scenery with little traffic, plus short walks, soaking pools and old mining history.

The stops

1. Start

   Lone Pine

2. Viewpoint

   Alabama Hills

   Rock arches and film-set landscape with Mount Whitney behind

3. Historic

   Manzanar National Historic Site

   Japanese American internment camp; self-drive tour

4. Town · Overnight

   Bishop

   Largest town in the area, with a bakery famous for bread

5. Viewpoint

   Hot Creek Geological Site

   Steaming creek; no swimming

6. Hike

   Convict Lake

   Lake with an easy loop

7. Town

   Mammoth Lakes

   Ski town with summer hikes

8. Hike

   Devils Postpile

   Basalt columns reached by shuttle in summer

9. Viewpoint

   June Lake Loop

   Short detour through lakes and aspens

10. Viewpoint

    Mono Lake South Tufa

    Tufa towers rising from salty lake

11. Historic

    Bodie State Historic Park

    Preserved gold-rush ghost town; the last 3 miles of access road are unpaved

12. Finish

    Bridgeport

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Lone Pine

  Portagee Joe Campground · Lone Pine motels

• Night 2

  Bishop

  Brown's Millpond (county)

• Night 3

  Mammoth Lakes

  Twin Lakes campground

• Night 4

  Lee Vining

  Lee Vining Creek campgrounds

When to go

Jun-Oct; autumn colour late Sep to mid Oct

On the road

Some side roads (Tioga Pass, Bodie) close in winter. Services are far apart, and winter storms can close the highway.